Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus disability, left knee condition, right knee condition, and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bulging cervical discs to include degenerative arthritis and thoracolumbar spine strain.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, persistent depressive disorder with persistent major depressive episode, thoracolumbar spine disability, pelvic pain, to include pain during sexual intercourse, left lower extremity peripheral nerve disability, and right lower extremity peripheral nerve disability. The claims for a left knee disability, right knee disability, right hip arthritis or another right hip disability, high cholesterol, bowel incontinence, 'nerve damage secondary to bowel incontinence', and pain while defecating were denied. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 was also denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and TDIU due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in VA not obtaining potentially relevant outstanding evidence of record.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for tension headaches and a TDIU, while denying increased ratings for various service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation, and no evidence linking the current disability to an in-service injury.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral inguinal hernia and residual scar, but remanded claims for service connection for low back disability, other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, left knee disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and a skin disorder (eczema and psoriasis) as the evidence did not support these claims. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and left wrist sprain were also denied.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including erectile dysfunction, chest strain, and multiple joint and muscle conditions, to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for left hip arthroplasty, right hip arthroplasty, low back degenerative changes, neck C5-C6 fusion with ankylosis, and a right knee condition.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy but denied higher ratings for the back disability and right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board granted the restoration of a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, residuals, injury, effective April 1, 2022, as the reduction was improper.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss, a left foot disability, and a lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, arthritis of the bilateral knees, a back disability, and a bilateral rotator cuff disability based on credible evidence supporting in-service stressors and symptoms.

The Board remands the matter for an adequate VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's current neck disability, including whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence was in equipoise regarding their incurrence during active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals seeking service connection for a right hip disability, a left hip disability, a thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical strain, and coronary artery disease.

The Board granted service connection for multiple acquired psychiatric and physical disabilities, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee strain, and right knee strain based on evidence that each condition was as likely as not due to in-service parachute jumps.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and low back disorder to obtain an adequate VA opinion as the May 2022 VA opinions are based on inaccurate factual premises.