Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with primary insomnia effective December 16, 2019, and an initial 40 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease from June 27, 2017 through December 6, 2021.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back pain, right knee pain, right ankle pain, right hip pain, left knee pain, GERD/reflux, mental health disorder, sleep apnea, and left shoulder pain, due to a duty to assist error regarding VA examinations.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's requests for extensions of time to file Board Appeal requests were denied, and the attempted appeals were dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for 20 conditions including depression, anxiety, and traumatic brain injury, finding insufficient evidence of in-service incurrence or nexus. The Board remanded three conditions (back condition, left lower extremity neuropathy, and left leg condition) for further adjudication.

The Board granted petitions to reconsider the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease lower lumbar and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety. The claim for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was denied.

The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision was made, and therefore, it is dismissed.

The Board denied increased ratings for various conditions but granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD prior to November 27, 2023.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unemployable in a non-protected work environment. He is granted TDIU and SMC.

The Board granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance due to the appellant's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as no evidence supported higher ratings or a grant of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, right knee disability, left knee condition, and right foot hallux valgus. However, the claim for PTSD was granted.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss but denied service connection for left foot, right foot, left knee, right knee, back, neck, and ulcer disorders.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, finding that new and relevant evidence had been submitted after the prior denial.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's back disability and a compensable rating for left knee limitation of extension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a temporary total evaluation based on surgical treatment and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance due to insufficient evidence of severe postoperative residuals or need for regular aid and assistance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied due to her failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and remanded the claims for back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, but denied earlier effective dates for the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, finding no evidence linking the Veteran's current condition to his military service.