Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to an in-service injury aboard the USS Rushmore.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent, but no higher, prior to September 18, 2024, for the Veteran's back disability.

The Veteran's DDD involving the lumbosacral spine has been granted a rating of 50 percent since December 14, 2006.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition, sleep apnea, and fibromyalgia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected back condition, as the evidence did not support an increase.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection claims and higher initial rating claim, resulting in their dismissal.

The appeal for service connection for spina bifida, lumbar spine was dismissed as it was a duplicate of a previous appeal and the Board remand is not final.

The Board granted service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder with major depression, pituitary microadenoma benign neoplasm with migraine headaches, and asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with assigned ratings of 70%, 50%, and 30% respectively. The claims for other conditions were remanded.

The veteran's appeal requests for the rating decisions issued on April 28, 2020, and January 4, 2023, were denied as they were not timely filed.

The Board granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease with spondylosis, spinal stenosis and IVDS as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The carpal tunnel syndrome claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy as it is etiologically linked to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the claims for PTSD, lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left foot condition, and right foot condition due to a lack of evidence supporting their direct or secondary relationship to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for restoration of a 40 percent rating and increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for a back disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left ear hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorders (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder), and plantar fasciitis of the feet. The claim for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board remands the claim for a back disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error because the August 2022 VA opinions are inadequate.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for treatment purposes only for a bilateral foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder, low back disorder, and sleep apnea due to a lack of timely filing.

The appeal for service connection for a low back disability was dismissed, while the claim for diverticulitis was granted due to it being aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 25, 2023, for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back and neck disability to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including verifying the Veteran's periods of service and obtaining adequate VA examinations.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy from February 19, 2022, but denied higher ratings. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for the increased 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability.