Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain was denied, while claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability had its onset in service.

The Board remands the claim for lumbosacral strain to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding an inadequate medical opinion on whether the Veteran's lumbar lordosis was aggravated by military service.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these disabilities are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and increased the disability ratings for lumbar and cervical spine IVDS with arthritis to 50% and 40%, respectively, from June 12, 2017.

The Board granted readjudication of service connection for a low back disability based on new and relevant evidence, but remanded the issue for further development.

The Board denied increased ratings for several service-connected conditions and granted some separate evaluations, while remanding others.

The Board denied an increased rating for tension headaches and service connection for panic disorder, but granted service connection for back pain and left leg radicular pain secondary to the back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several new claims.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to deficiencies in the VA examiners' opinions.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease but denied it for a kidney condition.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical strain, finding it related to the Veteran's service. The claims for lumbosacral and left ankle strains were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, requiring additional information from the Veteran regarding his work history and employment status.

The Board denied an initial rating greater than 70 percent for persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety, granted a 20 percent rating for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity shin splints, and left lower extremity shin splints, but denied an initial rating greater than 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory condition, restless leg syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, and higher ratings for allergic rhinitis, tension headaches, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and generalized anxiety disorder with unspecified mood disorder and alcohol use disorder. The claims for chronic sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and lumbosacral strain were remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral knee, skin, back, and lower back conditions due to procedural defects in the claims-processing rules.

The appeal was dismissed for the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, and service connection for migraine headaches was restored. Several claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis based on the current evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right shoulder disability to obtain additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, post traumatic headaches, and hypertrophic tonsils, but denied service connection for a low back pain condition, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, gout, dyslipidemia, an earlier effective date for tinnitus, chronic dyspnea, neck condition, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disorder.