Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, posttraumatic stress disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for PTSD and low back strain, as the earliest possible effective date based on his August 5, 2023, intent to file was already assigned.

The Board remands the case for verification of additional periods of service and an additional medical opinion.

The Board granted a maximum 50 percent rating for migraines and migraine variants, and a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, effective September 25, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for multilevel degenerative disc disease and bilateral hearing loss, while remanding the claims for Alzheimer's disease, a mental health disability, disabilities manifested by generalized weakness of the lower extremities, and a heart disability.

The Board granted a restoration of a 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective April 11, 2022, and also granted an increased rating to 40 percent from September 17, 2020.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for IVDS, lumbosacral spine, and denied a compensable rating for sinusitis. The claims for increased ratings for IVDS and right ankle strain were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, left shoulder, and bilateral hip disorders to obtain addendum opinions that properly consider a direct theory of entitlement.

The Board granted service connection for a scar on the right ring finger and denied service connection for refractive errors of the eyes. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the matter for a new medical opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, as the previous opinions were based on inaccurate facts and insufficient information.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for increased disability ratings, temporary total disability evaluation, and TDIU.

The Board remands the matter to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining relevant Social Security Administration records and a new medical opinion.

The Board remands the issues of whether the Appellant's character of discharge is a bar to entitlement to VA benefits, and for VA compensation for degenerative disc disease, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the need for additional evidence regarding the Appellant's mental status at the time of his misconduct.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability to correct duty to assist errors and obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back condition, finding that the Veteran's injury during active duty for training in 2020 was incurred in the line of duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to revise, based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE), the May 2001 rating decision that denied service connection for left knee and low back disorders.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings of various service-connected conditions, resulting in the dismissal of all appeals.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD effective July 29, 2022, but denied other claims including earlier effective dates and service connection for various disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a low back disorder, a neck disorder, a foot disorder, and high cholesterol. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was remanded.

The Board remands the service connection claim for lumbar condition due to an inadequate VA examination.