Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disorder to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's condition.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability due to a duty to assist error regarding the ameliorative effects of medication and an incomplete examination.

The Board granted a May 30, 2017, effective date for the award of a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine stenosis and degenerative disc disease, to include intervertebral disc syndrome and herniated discs L4-5 and L5-S1. The claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Board granted an initial increased disability rating of 20 percent for right knee joint osteoarthritis with shin splints and service connection for a low back condition.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 50 percent for migraines and 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board issued its final decision, and therefore, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee injury and migraine headaches due to inadequate VA medical opinions, while denying readjudication of the propriety of severance of service connection for lumbar disc herniation at L5-S1 as new and relevant evidence was not submitted.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for a back condition, restored the 30 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, denied an increased rating for PTSD, and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board remands the case to obtain complete treatment records from the Birmingham VA for the period prior to October 2001.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating than 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability, as there was no evidence of forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, ankylosis, or intervertebral disc syndrome requiring physician-prescribed bed rest.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and lumbosacral strain and IVDS.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for the remaining conditions, including hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues.

The Board granted service connection for rhinitis and dismissed the claims for kidney disease, special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance, and other conditions that were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), to include unspecified anxiety disorder, and assigned ratings of 40 percent, but no higher, for lumbar spine L5 spondylolysis without spondylolisthesis, and separate ratings of 10 percent each for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee strain with effusion, right knee strain with effusion and status post anterior tibial tubercle avulsion fracture, left knee lateral instability, and right knee lateral instability.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy from July 6, 2022. Service connection was denied for a cervical spine disorder.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability ratings for service-connected cervical strain and right ankle strain to afford the Veteran an orthopedic examination.

The Board remands the case for additional development to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy, hiatal hernia with GERD, status post bilateral inguinal hernia repair, bilateral hearing loss, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, a cervical spine disability, and a lumbar spine disability as there was no evidence of an in-service disease or injury, and the post-service medical records did not show that these conditions were related to his service.