Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis and DDD of the lumbar spine and a 10 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board granted service connection for IBS, chronic sinusitis, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to lumbar spine disability), increased ratings for the lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and increased ratings for knee instability and upper extremity radiculopathy. Tension headaches were also granted an initial rating.

The Board remands the matter for an additional medical opinion to address whether a low back disorder is related to service, including any symptomatology or duties therein.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded claims for sleep apnea, left hip, right hip, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings to correct errors by the AOJ, including obtaining medical opinions that adequately address the Veteran's symptoms and medical history.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a new VA opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for mid back and low back pain and migraine, including migraine variants.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for a low back disorder and left lower extremity nerve disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability but denied it for a prostate and heart disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for his lumbar condition, as well as separate evaluations for a bladder condition and erectile dysfunction associated with the service-connected lumbar condition. The claims for special monthly compensation were also remanded.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete VA examinations and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left ankle pain, and remanded the claims for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for chronic headaches, 20 percent for a back disability, 10 percent for a neck disability, 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and 10 percent for right foot plantar fasciitis, as well as service connection for a traumatic brain injury.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back condition, earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The claims for service connection for right knee and left knee conditions were remanded.

The appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims were withdrawn by the Veteran, leading to their dismissal. The remaining claims for service connection are remanded for further development.

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

The Board remands the claim for a back disability, to include spinal stenosis, for an examination and medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to correct the pre-decisional duty to assist error and to obtain an adequate VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board denied the application to readjudicate a previously denied claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, as no new and relevant evidence was submitted. The claims for prostate cancer and bladder disability were remanded for further development.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis effective June 26, 2019.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple musculoskeletal conditions due to a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the October 2021 rating decision on appeal.