Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The appeal for service connection for a back disability has been withdrawn and dismissed.

The Board denied higher ratings for migraines, lumbosacral strain, and left knee strain with tendonitis, but granted a 10 percent rating for atopic dermatitis of the left lower chest. The claim for service connection for sinusitis was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and left sciatic radiculopathy as the evidence of record did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service. The issues related to pain of lumbar spine, left foot condition (pes planus and plantar fasciitis), and right foot condition (pes planus and plantar fasciitis) are remanded for further development.

The appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent evaluation for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, with degenerative arthritis due to an improper reduction in the disability rating.

The Board remands the claim for a low back condition to obtain an addendum opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board denied service connection for various disorders, including a back disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, migraines, and neck disorder.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for PTSD and a right hip disability, but denied readjustment for the claim of service connection for a low back disability.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with herniated disc at L3-L5 and IVDS, denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for left ankle sprain and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and granted earlier effective dates for service connection for certain conditions.

The Board granted increased ratings for sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and facet disease, and cervical sprain with degenerative disc disease.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain, left leg radiculopathy as secondary to lumbosacral strain, and right leg radiculopathy as secondary to lumbosacral strain. The Board also granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right knee, left hip, left knee, right foot and low back disorders due to inadequate examinations and opinions.

The Board remands the issues of a higher rating for back disability and service connection for teeth and gum problems due to an error in providing notice of the right to a hearing.

The appeal concerning the service connection for right knee, lumbar spine, left knee, and hypertension has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates of service connection for various radiculopathies and a scar, as the September 2024 Board decision was not properly appealed.

The appeal seeking revision of the January 2017 rating decision that denied service connection for lumbosacral strain is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for IVDS with lumbosacral strain, finding that February 9, 2022 was the earliest possible effective date.

The appeal for a higher disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with hyperlordosis was dismissed due to failure to properly identify the specific decision and issue on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and denied initial ratings for several disabilities, while granting a 30% rating for the left foot disability and a 40% rating for the back disability.