Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for bilateral leg skin condition, left hand skin condition, bilateral eye disability, degenerative disc disease of the back and thoracolumbar spine, and bilateral foot condition. The claims for diabetes mellitus type II, heart condition, kidney stone urinary condition, stroke, and peripheral neuropathies were remanded.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's low back disorder, effective March 31, 2019.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate.

The Board remands the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted a 50% rating for lumbosacral strain, a separate 10% rating for left knee instability, and a 30% rating for tension headaches. The other claims were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tear, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, and right hip strain with trochanteric pain syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis, and remanded claims for sinusitis and a lumbar spine disability.

The veteran has withdrawn the appeal for all listed conditions, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to DDD with IVDS, erectile dysfunction as secondary to DDD with IVDS, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ. The appeal was denied for service connection for depression and anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, hypothyroidism, left lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, right and left lower extremity peripheral edema, and inguinal hernias.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and increased the ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS, left ankle sprain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy to 20 percent.

The appeal of the proposed reductions in disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee, and right knee scar were dismissed as there was no final agency action on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, low back disability, and abdominal aortic aneurysm as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to active military service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic back condition in service or continuous symptoms since service. The claimant is not entitled to a TDIU as well.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, with the low back pain issue remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity neurologic condition, and right lower extremity neurologic condition as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of June 18, 2015, for service connection for left knee and left hip disabilities but remanded other claims related to increased ratings and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic headaches but remanded the claims for a back condition, hemorrhoids, and dizziness.