Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma as secondary to actinic keratosis, which is a progression of the Veteran's service-connected dermatitis. The effective date for the grant of service connection for painful scars of the face was denied earlier than October 20, 2022.

The Veteran's back disability was granted a rating of 40 percent, but not higher, from March 9, 2021. The other issues were remanded for further consideration.

The Board granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, but denied increased ratings for the Veteran's foot, cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, psychiatric disorder, and other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on credible evidence of in-service combat-related injuries and a causal relationship to the current disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities for a new VA examination and etiological opinion due to inadequate previous opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot condition, a right clavicle condition, and a back condition as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, to include herniated discs and lumbar surgery due to an untimely Notice of Disagreement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service or continuity of symptomatology and that the disability was not related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from January 15, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her so helpless as to require the aid and attendance of another person, thus granting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Board grants service connection for a neck condition, left and right arm radiculopathy as secondary to the neck condition, a low back condition, left and right leg radiculopathy as secondary to the low back condition, a headache condition as secondary to the neck condition, and a right shoulder condition.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for right knee meniscal repair and denied ratings greater than 10 percent for the right knee ACL tear, an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, and service connection for various conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar disorder to provide the Veteran with an appropriate examination to determine its etiology.

The appeal was granted for the restoration of a 60% rating for the Veteran's service-connected back disability, effective February 1, 2021. An earlier effective date for service connection for chronic adjustment disorder and TDIU was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, scars of the face, psychiatric disorder, and traumatic brain injury.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities to obtain an adequate etiological opinion.

The appeal contesting the proposed decrease of service-connected lumbosacral strain from 40 percent disabling to a noncompensable rating is dismissed because the August 2023 rating decision was not final.

The Board denied the motion to revise or reverse on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) a May 30, 1972 rating decision denying service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for a recurrent lumbar spine disability and a recurrent sleep disability to obtain additional evidence and ensure an adequate medical examination.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for cervical strain and remanded the issues related to back disability and PTSD.