Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, a cervical spine disability with radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and migraine headaches, all to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The claims for a left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and right hip disability were denied.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 5, 2013, for service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for hearing loss, back condition, and neck condition.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (r)(2) level due to his service-connected disabilities requiring a higher level of care.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder conditions, lumbosacral strain with IVDS, and bilateral hip conditions to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with somatic dysfunction of the lumbar region due to an inadequate medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder and denied increased ratings for the lumbar disability, left and right sciatica, and chronic sinusitis. However, it granted an increased rating of 40 percent from March 7, 2022, for left and right sciatic radiculopathy and restored a 30 percent rating for chronic sinusitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, while remanding claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis, psychiatric disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and back disability.

The Board remands the case for further development, including obtaining new medical opinions and examination reports to address the issues of service connection and increased ratings.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to deficiencies in previous VA medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's claimed condition and his active military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for his back disability from September 14, 2017 to February 24, 2020 and a 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy during the same period. The claims for higher ratings were denied for other conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disorder to obtain additional evidence and an adequate medical opinion in compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, effective February 2, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for a bowel condition and remanded claims for allergies, migraine headaches, low back condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, GERD, right knee condition, and left knee condition.

The Board granted service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, a skin rash, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, shortness of breath, PTSD, OSA, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, knee disabilities, CPS, and earlier effective dates.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including knee and foot conditions, a low back disability, radiculopathy, tinnitus, and a neck condition, to correct pre-decisional errors in fulfilling VA's duty to assist by rescheduling missed examinations.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbar sprain with spondylosis and remanded the claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board granted an effective date of July 14, 2020, for the grant of service connection for IVDS with spinal fusion and lumbar disc disease with stenosis, as well as associated radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the left and right lower extremities, and depressive disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were caused by his in-service injuries.

The Board granted service connection for a separate 50 percent initial rating for insomnia as secondary to tinnitus, and denied an increased rating for tinnitus. The Board also granted service connection for headache disability, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.