Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee chondromalacia patella with instability, in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia patella with leg pain, and in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain (claimed as lower back pain) to ensure that the Veteran is afforded VA examinations that properly assess the current severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical strain, low back condition, and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for OSA, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee pain, right knee pain, posttraumatic residual pain of the cervical and cervicothoracic regions, and radicular pain and paresthesia of the right lower extremity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of both lower extremities and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, while claims for service connection for a back disability, to include back strain; a right ankle disability; a right knee disability; and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date, as the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and traumatic brain injury has been in effect since April 19, 2019.

The Board granted increased disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative lumbar spine arthritis with IVDS and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA.

The Board denied increased ratings for lumbar strain with disc degeneration, left knee sprain, and hiatal hernia but granted a 20 percent rating for left ankle strain.

The Board granted service connection for multiple degenerative joint diseases of the right and left wrist, knee, shoulder, elbow, and hip, including as secondary to a lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and allergic rhinitis, assigned a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis, and denied service connection for the other conditions.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor and pseudofolliculitis were granted a 10 percent rating, while service connection was denied for herpes, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and multiple foot and knee conditions.

The Board granted the restoration of a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, effective March 12, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, to include lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is likely related to his in-service activities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, but no higher, on and after November 19, 2023.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection and other related claims, resulting in their dismissal.

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

The Board denied the claim for entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or event related to the Veteran's back condition.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disability, to include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and remanded claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and left ankle disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, granted a 10 percent rating for the painful right knee scar, and denied increased ratings for adjustment disorder with depressed mood and other conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's periods of active-duty service.