Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including carpal tunnel syndrome, lumbar spine disability, prostate condition, bilateral eye disability, and obstructive sleep apnea, to correct pre-decisional errors in obtaining VA treatment records and a necessary medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and sciatica of the left lower extremity, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for right hip arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee chondromalacia patella with limitation of extension. The claim for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and IVDS was remanded due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression and insomnia, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis. The claims for initial ratings greater than 10 percent for various knee and hip disabilities were remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The issues of service connection for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine; right leg radiculopathy; and degenerative arthritis, cervical spine are dismissed as the Board granted service connection in a separate appeal stream.

The Board remands all claims for further development and to correct pre-decision duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis and a left knee disorder, but denied service connection for other conditions including the lumbar spine, thoracic spine, leg neurological disorders, hand tremors, inguinal hernia, as well as denied a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis from August 10, 2022, to August 26, 2025, and a rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches.

The Board granted the veteran's appeal and reinstated the 40 percent rating for thoracolumbar strain to include degenerative arthritis, finding that the reduction was improper.

The Board denied increased ratings for left knee strain and right leg shin splints, granted a 10 percent rating for right ankle strain, and remanded several other issues including service connection claims.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain associated with degenerative disc disease, effective January 3, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for GERD and denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, while denying an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, to include sciatica and low back pain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, right shoulder disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and respiratory disability to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board is remanding the matters for clarification from the private examiner as to whether a goniometer was used, and will defer further adjudication until such clarification is provided.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the current disability is due to an in-service back injury.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain but granted service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities associated with the lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied increased ratings for migraines and lumbar spondylosis, granted a 40% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, and granted TDIU and earlier effective dates for special monthly compensation and Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for extensions of time to file appeals regarding various rating decisions, and dismissed the attempted appeals.

The Board remands the claim for an increased rating for thoracolumbar strain to ensure the Veteran is afforded a new VA examination that accurately reflects his symptoms.