Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy to ensure that all relevant personnel records are obtained.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and lumbar spine disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, for further development of evidence.

The Board remands the case to obtain additional medical records from F.E. Warrant AFB for further review.

The Veteran's left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy was granted an evaluation of 20 percent from January 11, 2012 to January 22, 2025, but an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for the same condition and an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for a back disability were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus and ischemic heart disease, due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for DMII and PN due to diabetes, but denied service connection for low back pain.

The Board granted service connection for chronic urticaria and denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder other than myositis. The claims for myositis of the muscles of the cervical spine and lumbar spine were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to February 10, 2020, and an increased disability rating in excess of 40 percent since that time for the service-connected lumbar spine disability, a separate rating for radiculopathy, and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding no evidence that his current condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left shoulder rotator cuff disabilities, effective from March 25, 2008 and February 28, 2008 respectively. The thoracolumbar spine disability was also rated at 40 percent, but a temporary total disability rating for convalescence following a January 13, 2016 left shoulder surgery was denied.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including PTSD, bilateral pes planus with left plantar calcaneal spur, atopic dermatitis, and left hip trochanteric bursitis. However, the Board granted service connection for asthma due to presumed exposure during Gulf War service.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, to include pain, and readjudicated the claim for lumbar spine disability. However, it denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The appeal for service connection for a third degree burn on the neck was dismissed by the Veteran. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a cervical spine condition were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and an incomplete evidentiary record.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, low back pain, right knee strain, and left shoulder impingement syndrome. The claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches was denied as well as the initial disability rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headache disorder, lumbar spine condition, and respiratory condition as there is no probative evidence that the Veteran has a current disability for any of these conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, including degenerative arthritis, C3-C7; cervical spine degenerative disc disease, including Intervertebral Disc Syndrome of C3-C7; cervical spinal stenosis; right hand and arm neurologic condition, including right cervical radiculopathy; and obstructive sleep apnea to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the August 2020 rating decisions on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, sinusitis, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities. The Veteran was also granted increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board denied an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder and vertigo, granted a TDIU, and remanded evaluations for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease L4-L5 with intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.