Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, and pseudofolliculitis barbae, among other issues, with specific ratings and effective dates.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for service connection for various conditions as the appeals were not timely filed.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding no medical nexus between the Veteran's condition and her military service.

The Board granted an initial increased disability evaluation rating of 40 percent for service-connected left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic. The other issues were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain and right foot tendinitis.

The appeal for service connection for a back disorder related to the October 2022 decision has been dismissed due to untimeliness of the appeal.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for migraine headaches and an effective date of July 30, 2020, for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with agoraphobia, TDIU, DEA benefits, and SMC. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected back condition precludes him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a TDIU rating. Additionally, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate due to his total disability and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the claims for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip strain, right hip strain, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and right ankle ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability manifested by pain, finding that the Veteran's low back pain results in functional impairment and is related to service. The claims for headaches and obstructive sleep apnea were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine with thoracic level spinal canal stenosis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, but denied service connection for PTSD based on military sexual trauma (MST).

The appeal was dismissed due to the untimely submission of a notice of disagreement within one year of the May 2014 rating decision.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and left ankle disability, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board denied a rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and granted service connection for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD, while remanding claims for hand tremors, allergic rhinitis, headaches, and back condition.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar degenerative arthritis prior to September 20, 2021, and granted ratings of 40 percent from September 19, 2019 to December 29, 2020, and 20 percent from March 1, 2021 to September 20, 2021 for the same condition. The claims for service connection for bruxism and a left knee condition were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, removal of the uvula, hypertension, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as there was no evidence that these conditions had their onset during active military service or were caused by an in-service injury or disease.

The appeal regarding service connection for a neck disability and an increased rating for GERD was dismissed, while the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative disc disease lumbar spine L5-S1 is remanded.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for a lumbar disability, while denying service connection for a right ankle disability.