Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS, status post microdiscectomy from February 1, 2014, to March 22, 2023, and a 40 percent rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome (to include rotator cuff tear).

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, disability manifested by skin rash and lesions on feet and hands, respiratory disability manifested by difficulty breathing, disability manifested by muscle pain and cramping, and joint pain in arms and legs, and chronic headaches, all due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for lower lumbar disability, upper respiratory disability, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or an earlier effective date for a TTD rating.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for a bilateral knee injury and low back injury, and these issues are therefore dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical myelopathy with right upper extremity weakness, chronic kidney disease stage III, gout of the right foot, hip joint replacements, and umbilical hernia. The claims for left rotator cuff tear, sleep apnea, and tinnitus were remanded.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for chronic lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis but granted 20 percent ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for a back disability, left ankle disability, migraine disability, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and right ankle disability.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, loss of use of bodily organs, hair loss, hearing loss, and other conditions. Some claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for otitis externa, hemorrhoids, allergic rhinitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. The claims for memory loss disability, sinusitis, neck disability, and back disability were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date prior to May 4, 2022, for a 20 percent disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board remands the case to obtain a more comprehensive examination and additional medical records, as the current evidence is inadequate to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability warrants a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spine, spinal stenosis, and neck injury with cervical degenerative disc disease and severe pain based on credible lay statements and medical evidence.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and examinations.

The appeal for ratings in excess of 40 percent and 20 percent for the veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed due to improper filing of an appeal.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, but denied increased ratings for COPD, chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, lumbosacral strain, migraine with chronic headaches, and residuals of a right ankle fracture. The Veteran was granted TDIU from January 12, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, but remanded the claim for a dizziness disorder.

The Board granted service connection for anxiety disorder and remanded several other claims, including those for hearing loss, tinnitus, a headache disorder, dizziness, hypothyroidism, hypertension, hemorrhoids, and GERD.

The Board granted a 10% rating for the right ankle scar and onychomycosis, but denied service connection for hypertension, GERD, IBS, lumbar spine strain, PTSD, and cirrhosis of the liver.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including cervical spine, radiculopathy, foot and ankle conditions, hypertension, migraines, skin issues, bone pain, and kidney problems, as the evidence did not support a finding of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.