Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for a recurrent lumbosacral spine disability to include lumbosacral strain and lumbar spine spondylosis, as it needs further development of evidence related to the service-connected inguinal hernia.

The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for various conditions was dismissed due to an improper concurrent election of review options.

The veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including claims for service connection and disability ratings.

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. It also granted initial ratings for various disabilities including a 20 percent rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis, a 30 percent rating for labral tear, including superior labral anterior-posterior lesion, status post surgical repair, and higher ratings for other conditions.

The Board remands the claim for an adequate VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service, including parachute jumps during service.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, right shoulder disorder, headaches, and low back disorder. The Board also denied an increased rating for PTSD with recurrent major depressive disorder, mild, with anxious distress (PTSD) from October 22, 2020 to July 10, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased ratings for various conditions, but granted a 20% rating for the thoracolumbar condition and a 50% rating for depressive disorder from October 30, 2009.

The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain/left ankle deltoid ligament sprain, effective February 3, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for a right heel strain, neck disability, lower back disability, left shoulder disability, and right foot disability based on their etiological relation to in-service injuries.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's back and right shoulder disabilities, but restored a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve effective February 5, 2024, and granted a TDIU.

The Board granted the request to readjudicate the claim for service connection for chronic low back pain due to new and relevant evidence being submitted after the prior denial.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and a compensable rating for various service-connected conditions, as well as remanded the claim for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and various other disabilities due to the lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis or a link to active duty.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disorders, including shoulder, spine, knee, and extremity conditions, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, neck disorder, headaches, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral plantar fasciitis as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during active service or resulted from an injury incurred in the line of duty.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis, right lower radiculopathy, and tinnitus, and assigned a 70 percent disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and an earlier effective date of June 18, 2018, for the grant of service connection for a right hip disability to include limitation of flexion, extension, and abduction. The claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for depressive disorder and a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the spine, while denying increased ratings for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and hearing loss.

The Board remands the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected back and knee conditions, as well as other related issues.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee, right knee, lower back, and tinnitus conditions. The claims for a right shoulder condition and neck condition were remanded.