Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent for chronic sinusitis, 50 percent for migraine headaches, 40 percent for a lumbosacral strain, 20 percent for a cervical strain, and 10 percent for granuloma annulare from May 1, 2023 to January 23, 2024.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 30, 2023, for the grant of service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and denied service connection for asthma, while dismissing the appeal regarding the reduction in the disability rating from 40 percent to 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain effective July 17, 2024.

The Board denied an increased rating greater than 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and scoliosis of the thoracic spine.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar enthesopathy DDD, IVDS, and/or degenerative arthritis, and bilateral plantar fasciitis to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, except for granting an effective date of September 16, 2022, for service connection for GERD and IBS.

The appeal for service connection for lumbar radicular symptoms in the left thigh and leg was dismissed due to untimely filing.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder strains, as well as a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, respiratory disorder with dyspnea, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), abdominal pain syndrome (APS), restless leg syndrome (RLS), chronic headaches, left knee strain, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain, and disability manifested by right shoulder pain. The Board also granted increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities to 40 percent.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee, right knee, left ankle, and low back conditions as secondary to his service-connected right ankle sprain with tenosynovitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and hallux valgus, and an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD. It also granted earlier effective dates for the assignment of ratings for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an effective date of July 30, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension and dismissed claims for earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for reductions in ratings for post operative left femur fracture with leg length discrepancy and chondromalacia residuals, and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spondylosis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hip strain, nosebleeds, allergic rhinitis, and traumatic brain injury as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle degenerative joint disease, right ankle degenerative joint disease, and lumbosacral strain as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board remands the case to obtain a medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's back disabilities, specifically addressing functional loss during flare-ups and with repeated use over time.

All appeals for higher ratings, decreased ratings, and service connection claims have been dismissed as the Veteran has already appealed these issues to the Board.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection based on new and relevant evidence, but remanded several issues for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition, finding the evidence in relative equipoise as to whether it is causally related to the Veteran's service.