Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, hypertension, and musculoskeletal issues, to ensure compliance with duty to assist requirements.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted an effective date of August 24, 2012. The ratings for the other conditions were denied or remanded.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for a facial scar and a separate 10 percent rating for pain, but dismissed appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and back disability due to untimely notices of disagreement. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and headaches were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, finding a medical link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's awards of service connection and denied increased ratings, except for a 20% rating from October 19, 2020 to October 1, 2021 for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the assignment of separate 20 percent ratings for right and left knee instability, but denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings for PTSD and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the matter for a new VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, including during flare-ups.

The Board granted service connection for low back conditions, left hip condition, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and a 50 percent rating for sinusitis as of August 22, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including unspecified depressive disorder, right and left hand tremors, GERD, IBS, gastritis, chronic sinusitis, dermatosis of the arms, hands, and feet, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral tinea pedis, and a lumbar spine disability. The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI and a compensable rating for migraine headaches.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 21, 2023, for the evaluations of 40 percent for low back disability, 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, and 20 percent for right knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes and various musculoskeletal disorders, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and granted a 40 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy prior to September 1, 2024. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, bowel and bladder disorders, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities to correct an error by the RO in satisfying a statutory duty to assist.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, right hip strain, lumbosacral strain, right knee meniscal tear, and left wrist sprain. The claim for service connection for cervical strain was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor based on evidence showing onset during active-duty service.

The appeal for proposed rating reductions of the left and right ankle disabilities was dismissed, as they are not appealable. The claim for service connection for a low back condition could not be readjudicated due to lack of new relevant evidence. Service connection for tinnitus was denied, while the issue of entitlement to service connection for a heart condition was remanded.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted an effective date of January 16, 2022, but no earlier, for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with spondylosis and scoliosis, finding the evidence to be in at least approximate balance regarding its onset during active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and the challenge to a rating reduction, thus the Board dismissed the appeal.