Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches was dismissed due to a duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and an increased rating for further development, specifically addressing a duty to assist error related to proper notice under VCAA.

The Veteran is granted eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to the loss of use of both lower extremities, and his appeal seeking a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to June 7, 2019, from the earlier effective date of June 1, 2016, and denied an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD from June 6, 2014, to June 1, 2016.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, and hypertension, but denied service connection for tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and remanded the claims for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board remands the matter for a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's back disability is related to service, including the rigors of training.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) level and a higher level of SMC at the (r)(1) level from December 28, 2017, based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the issues for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records.

The Board granted an effective date of April 10, 2019 for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease with spondylosis, lumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine condition as the evidence does not support that it was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The appeal to readjudicate a claim for service connection for right leg shortening due to poliomyelitis was granted, while the appeal for a low back disability, to include scoliosis, was dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lower back condition as the appeal request was not timely filed.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral ankle disability and lower lumbar arthritis due to a late filing of the appeal request.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a cervical spine disability due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board remands the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 31, 2023, as the evidence of record is insufficient to properly evaluate the Veteran's claim.

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, avascular necrosis of the left hip, and sleep apnea, all as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for depression and anxiety, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The back and neck conditions were remanded for further examination.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as lumbar back strain, degenerative disc disease with posterior annular fissuring at L5-S1, and osteochondrosis and spondyloarthrosis L4-5 and L5-S1.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and entitlement to individual unemployability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding missing private medical records.