Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the appeal for restoration of a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and a 20 percent rating for lower left extremity radiculopathy as the ratings were restored in an April 30, 2025 Higher-Level Review (HLR) rating decision.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability since September 26, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a procedural error in failing to provide the Veteran with notice of her right to a pre-decisional hearing.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of increased ratings for a lumbar disability and lower extremity radiculopathies, effective August 4, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine based on the Veteran's limited range of motion, which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, mental health, and lower extremity disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation effective January 1, 2015, but no earlier. A rating in excess of 40 percent for the low back disability is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions without the use of pain medication and securing the credentials of the VA examiners.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and TDIU due to a lack of adequate evidence regarding functional loss during flare-ups and ankylosis, as well as other procedural issues.

The Board granted service connection for peptic ulcer disease and denied service connection for a low back disability, with some issues remanded.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left-sided mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board denied separate compensable ratings for left and right lower extremity disabilities as well as left and right upper extremity disabilities from September 11, 2008, to March 7, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right eye dry eyes, cataracts of the left and right eyes, neuropathy of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, left renal arteriovenous malformation, aneurysm, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, recurrent subluxation of the left knee prior to May 13, 2020, left total knee replacement, disability rating in excess of 60 percent from September 1, 2021, forward for left total knee replacement, DJD of the right knee, right knee instability, burns of the bilateral ankles, linear scar of the left knee, post-surgical tender scars of the left knee, and a total disability rating due to unemployability (TDIU) based upon service-connected disabilities prior to June 14, 2019.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating, service connection as secondary to a back disability, TDIU, and SMC due to the need for aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain as secondary to the service-connected right shoulder osteoarthritis, denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, and remanded the claim for a low back disability as secondary to the service-connected pes planus.

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder and cervical pain but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also granted ratings of 10 percent or 20 percent for several conditions from specific dates.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence that it met a compensable level during the period on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder condition, left arm condition, low back condition, and left leg condition as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to service.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss disability, neck strain, and tinea pedis. The Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was also denied. The claims for service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were remanded.