Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis effective April 7, 2022, and denied a higher rating.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for headaches, denied a higher rating for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, and denied an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the appellant's preexisting condition was aggravated during active service. The other issues were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, thoracolumbar spondylosis, cervical spondylosis, and both lower extremity radiculopathies as they were not incurred in or caused by his active service.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance that it is causally related to the Veteran's active duty.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions with an effective date of February 1, 2023, but remanded other issues related to initial disability ratings and new claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for revision of a June 2008 rating decision that assigned initial noncompensable disability ratings for right knee and back disabilities on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back condition, COPD, brain condition, diabetes mellitus type II, GERD, heart condition, and hypertension, to obtain additional evidence.

The Board is remanding the claims for a compensable rating for right hip surgical scar, an increased rating for left hip limited extension, an increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, and an increased rating for thoracic syrinx with degenerative disc disease due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the spinal fusion from March 1, 2011 to July 14, 2022, but denied a higher rating. The effective date of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted as of March 1, 2011.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for lumbar degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease was dismissed as it was not timely filed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for spondylolisthesis lumbar facet arthrosis and sciatica, left and right lower extremities was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection claims related to bilateral hearing loss, GERD, and a back disability.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's explicit withdrawal of his claims for increased ratings and service connection, with full understanding of the consequences.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder as they did not have their onsets during service or within one year of discharge and are not otherwise related to service.

The Board granted increased disability ratings for the service-connected back disability and sciatic nerve radiculopathy of both lower extremities, as well as an earlier effective date for TDIU and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, RLE sciatic radiculopathy, LLE sciatic radiculopathy, headache condition, and neck condition (manifested by pain with functional loss that can affect earning capacity).

The Board granted increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain and cervical strain status post fusion C5-C6, but denied an increased rating for the latter condition in certain periods.