Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issues of higher disability evaluations for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome and associated radiculopathy, as well as entitlement to a TDIU prior to January 14, 2022, due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the effects of medication on the severity of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating higher than 40 percent for IVDS with arthritis of the lumbar spine and thoracic scoliosis, a rating higher than 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board denied service connection for various claimed conditions, including a neck disorder, low back disorder, shoulder disorders, knee disorder, ankle and foot disorders, skin rash, eye disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorder, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating higher than 20 percent for cervical spine disability prior to September 10, 2021, and entitlement to an initial 20 percent rating for lumbar spine disability due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board remands the case to provide the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the current severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the appeal for further development, including verification of periods of service and obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, denied an increased rating for the right knee and psychiatric disorder, and granted an additional 10 percent rating for right knee instability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted it for sleep apnea. The rating for the low back disability was increased to 40 percent effective October 7, 2022.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for a back disability for further development and consideration, specifically addressing the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability as there was no evidence showing that these conditions manifested during active service or to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active service, nor were they etiologically related to active service.

The Board restored the 40% rating for the service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and herniated disc status post L5-S1 disc replacement effective June 25, 2024, and granted an initial 10% rating for a surgical scar on the anterior trunk.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist condition, left shoulder condition, and fibromyalgia. The claims for thoracolumbar spine condition, acquired psychiatric condition, right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, and left ankle condition were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist condition, left shoulder condition, and fibromyalgia. The claims for thoracolumbar spine condition, acquired psychiatric condition, right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, and left ankle condition were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist condition, left shoulder condition, and fibromyalgia. The claims for thoracolumbar spine condition, acquired psychiatric condition, right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, and left ankle condition were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist condition, left shoulder condition, and fibromyalgia. The claims for thoracolumbar spine condition, acquired psychiatric condition, right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, and left ankle condition were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for extensions of time to file appeals regarding rating decisions that denied service connection for various conditions, and dismissed the attempted appeals.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for GERD but remanded the claims for service connection for chronic low back pain and left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his increased rating of lumbar spine disc herniation and degenerative disc disease, as he is already receiving the earliest possible effective date.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, thoracolumbar spine.

The Board granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and back disability. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.