Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including GERD, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability, and multiple musculoskeletal and other conditions, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the claims for bilateral ankle arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, erectile dysfunction, degenerative disc disease, cervical, bilateral plantar fasciitis with arthritis and heel spurs, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for cervical degenerative disc disease, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted effective dates of July 16, 2020, for the grants of service connection and DEA benefits, but denied higher ratings for back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and sciatic radiculopathy disabilities but denied increased ratings for the psychiatric disorder and other conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back, left ankle, and left hip disability as well as entitlement to TDIU due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD, a low back disability, and a right leg disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with mild scoliosis based on forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less.

The Board granted an effective date of January 22, 2021, for the assignment of a 40 percent evaluation for service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and for the award of service connection sciatica of the left lower extremity.

The Board remands the claims for a low back and right foot disorder to correct duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining line of duty determinations and medical opinions.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, restored a higher disability rating for degenerative disc disease and lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, restored a previous disability rating for radiculopathy of femoral nerve, right lower extremity, and granted an increased 50 percent disability rating for migraines.

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbosacral strain, restored a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with DJD, DDD, and IVDS effective April 7, 2023, and granted a 30 percent rating for left shoulder subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis from February 28, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for right temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and bruxism, lumbar spine strain, and erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism. The appeal was denied for an initial compensable rating for eczema.

The appeal for a compensable rating for left knee degenerative joint disease (extension) was denied, and the appeal regarding the proposed reduction in the evaluation of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease was dismissed.

The Board remands the increased rating claim for lumbar spondylosis to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error in that the AOJ failed to obtain an adequate VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent and earlier effective dates for service connection, as well as denied initial higher ratings for radiculopathies.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and vertigo, while remanding claims for sciatica nerve pain, headache condition, and low back condition.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a seizure disorder, back disorder, and respiratory disorder to cure pre-decisional duty to assist errors.