Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, left and right hip pain, right knee degenerative arthritis, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition, bilateral upper and lower peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric condition, as further development is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for PTSD, but no higher. The claims for service connection for low back condition and right hip trochanteric pain syndrome were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical strain and lumbar strain to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including when the AOJ fails to make reasonable efforts to obtain VA treatment records, relevant federal or private treatment records; fails to obtain a VA examination; or provides an inadequate VA examination or opinion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, degenerative changes in the lower lumbar spine, and narcolepsy are service-connected. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these conditions is also granted.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and an earlier effective date of May 14, 2018, for radiculopathy right lower extremity. Other claims were denied.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability and a 10 percent rating for bilateral shin splints, while denying increased ratings for other disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection and increased ratings, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claims for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis with right foot Morton's neuroma were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, facet arthrosis, and spinal stenosis due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, while remanding the claims for lumbosacral strain and plantar fasciitis of the left and right foot.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a hiatal hernia as there was no evidence of these conditions during the Veteran's active duty or in the years following, despite his service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right elbow disability, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease prior to September 9, 2020 and earlier effective dates of March 5, 2020 for the award of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for multiple spinal conditions and a right foot disorder, effective from the date of the September 2024 rating decision.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a low back disability, a left knee disability, and a left shoulder disability as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, fibromyalgia, and CFS. The Veteran's hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy, shoulder disability, knee meniscal tear, knee limitation of extension, knee scars, GERD, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and PTSD were also not rated higher than their current levels.

The Board restored the 50% rating for headaches and the 30% rating for a cervical spine disability, as the reductions were improper. The claims for service connection for OSA, a higher rating for allergic rhinitis, and a sinus disorder are remanded.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and persistent mood disorder, granted a 40 percent initial rating for low back disability, and denied initial ratings higher than 10 percent for plantar fasciitis and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities involving the sciatic nerve.