Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for scarring, status post lumbar laminectomy.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left foot hammer toe, iliotibial band syndrome, right knee, migraines, and benign neoplasm of the thyroid. Service connection was denied for arthritis of the bilateral hips.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) throughout the rating period on appeal.

The Board granted readjudication for several service connection claims but denied others, and remanded some for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a right hip condition, restless sleep, sleep apnea, and low back condition, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service.

The veteran withdrew the appeal, and all claims were dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is directly related to her military service.

The Board granted an effective date of October 27, 2021, for the award of service connection for residual scar status post squamous cell carcinoma but denied an earlier effective date for back disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right shoulders, left and right hips, left and right knees, and lumbar spine due to incomplete VA opinions.

The Board denied an evaluation higher than 30 percent for the service-connected irritable bowel syndrome with functional abdominal pain syndrome and remanded several other issues related to service connection.

The Board remands the matters on appeal for the development requested by the Court, specifically requesting that the AOJ obtain private treatment records from Active Health Chiropractic.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability due to insufficient notice provided for the initial examination.

The Board remands the issues of higher initial ratings for right ankle, right knee, and neck disabilities and service connection for upper extremity radiculopathy disorders to obtain additional evidence and examinations.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and right and left hip disabilities secondary to the low back disability, but denied service connection for a neck disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to the low back disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar conditions, but remanded the matter of a higher rating for the low back condition.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted a 40 percent rating, and TDIU based on the low back disability process alone was also granted from September 19, 2008.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain and a TDIU from August 30, 2010 to May 3, 2011 due to insufficient compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board remands the claims for a left femur fracture status post-surgery, a left wrist disability, an inguinal hernia, and a back disability for additional development of evidence.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's low back and left wrist disabilities, but granted service connection for left wrist scars secondary to the left wrist disability.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran and finding that her back disability had its initial onset during active service.