Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain, finding a relationship between the in-service injury and current disability. The back disability claim was remanded for further development.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis of the cervical spine, as the Veteran's disability was found to be manifested by flexion greater than 30 degrees and a combined range of motion greater than 170 degrees.

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

The Board granted earlier effective dates of June 22, 2023, for the award of service connection and increased ratings for right and left lower extremity neuropathy. The claim for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease was readjudicated, and a higher initial disability rating was assigned. The appeal for an earlier effective date and increased rating for coronary artery disease was denied.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for various disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability, PTSD, left shoulder disability, hearing loss, depression, insomnia, jaw pain disability, and anxiety. The only issue remanded was entitlement to service connection for right leg nerve damage.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a lower back condition to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion that addresses the etiology of the Veteran's claimed condition, including considering the in-service injury.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all claims, including those related to various disabilities and service connection.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and a TDIU, dismissed an earlier effective date claim for LLER, and denied SMC based on housebound status.

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain, finding a relationship between the in-service injury and current disability. The back disability claim was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating, while other service-connected conditions were denied higher ratings.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and neck condition to ensure that due process is followed and there is a complete record upon which to decide the Veteran's claim.

The appeal for service connection for knee pain was dismissed due to the lack of an adjudicated claim within one year prior to the receipt of the VA Form 10182. The Board remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability for further development.

The Board granted a 20 percent initial disability rating for the back, LLE sciatic radiculopathy, and RLE sciatic radiculopathy from July 27, 2018, but denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal regarding service connection for left side leg numbness, low back pain, and bone fractures was dismissed due to an improper concurrent election of review options.

The Board denied service connection for a left leg condition, speech condition, and remanded the claims for a left foot disability, low back disability, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, increased rating for tinnitus, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals for initial disability ratings and effective dates related to various conditions, including lumbar spine, sciatic and femoral radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder. The decision also granted a 60 percent rating for left knee arthroplasty from January 1, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and entitlement to a TDIU prior to June 24, 2021.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 4, 2021, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for lumbar spine disability, an initial compensable rating for right knee limitation of flexion, an initial compensable rating for left knee limitation of flexion, effective dates prior to March 4, 2021, for separate ratings for left and right knee limitations of flexion, and a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and an acquired psychiatric disorder but denied service connection for a neck condition, left arm radiculopathy, low back condition, left leg radiculopathy, and a right knee condition.