Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and granted TDIU from February 21, 2018.

The Board remands the matter for further development to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion that complies with its March 2025 remand directives.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spondylosis and scoliosis, lung disorder to include COPD with bronchitis and dead scar tissue on lungs, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disorder from May 11, 2005 to February 28, 2012 and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 12, 2005 due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during its pendency.

The Board remands the matter for additional development, including a new VA examination to address the Veteran's back disability and ensure the examination is adequate in light of the Court's holding in Correia v. McDonald.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from December 6, 2023.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a neck disability, back disability, hand/finger disability, broken left leg, left leg cramps, left leg nerve disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, psychiatric disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension, to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, as there is no sufficient evidence of a nexus between the current disability and the in-service event, injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for idiopathic hypersomnia and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease other than IVDS of the lumbosacral spine were granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance in calendar year 2021 for a back brace, as there was no evidence that the use of the back brace resulted in wear and tear on the outer garment.

The Board granted service connection for bipolar disorder and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, both as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back condition and lumbar strain respectively.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was granted a rating of 70 percent, and TDIU was also granted.

The Board granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent for left knee instability and lower back condition, but denied an increased rating for the left knee condition and a compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board granted increased ratings and service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder tendinopathy, migraines, pain and dysfunction in multiple joints, and major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's low back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hip conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability and a low back disability as secondary to the neck disability, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and cervical spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The appeal for bilateral hip disabilities was dismissed as moot.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral shoulders, and right knee disabilities due to inextricable interwoven issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or additional compensation.