Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus was dismissed due to the absence of a controversy at issue.

The Board granted readjudication of a service connection claim for a low back disability and remanded claims for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee condition, right shoulder pain, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, while other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, left and right knee degenerative arthritis, but remanded the claims for a bilateral eye condition and residuals of a fractured rib.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 2, 2020 for the award of service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder in remission and TBI residuals but denied increased ratings for multiple disabilities.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 25, 2022, for service connection for a back condition but remanded the matter of entitlement to an extraschedular total disability based on individual unemployability as a result of service-connected disabilities prior to April 13, 2022.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, as he is now rated 100 percent from November 22, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for a bone disorder, back disability, right shoulder radiculopathy, right and left foot osteoarthritis, neck disability, and dry eye syndrome due to the lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or symptoms during service that are related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), a right shoulder disorder, and a back disorder due to lack of evidence supporting the claims.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability, separate ratings of 10 percent each for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a TDIU. The depression was denied an increased rating.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for various disabilities and conditions, including back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, left lower extremity scar associated with the left ankle disability, erectile dysfunction, and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension, migraine headaches, a low back disability, and sinus disability and allergies to obtain SSA records pertinent to the Veteran's claim for Social Security disability benefits.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection for a back condition.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for lumbosacral strain but granted an earlier effective date of October 7, 2020, for the award of service connection.

The Board granted an effective date of July 11, 2023, for the grant of service connection for PTSD, migraines, a bilateral shoulder disability, a low back disability, and bilateral knee disability.

The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied a higher evaluation for lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back disability and shortness of breath to correct a duty-to-assist error that occurred prior to the December 2023 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and also denied his claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him disabled to the extent that he requires regular aid and assistance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.