Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the appeals seeking to reopen service connection claims for various conditions on the basis of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 25, 2014 for the award of a 20 percent rating for low back strain.

The Board is remanding the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis for additional development.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for a back condition and entitlement to TDIU due to non-compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for lumbar radiculopathy due to errors in the prior decision.

The Board denied a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) prior to April 17, 2012, and remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) prior to April 17, 2012, as well as the effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board remands the claims for a back condition and TDIU due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Board granted a higher evaluation of 50 percent for lumbar strain with low back pain and traumatic arthritis, as well as service connection for urinary incontinence with recurring UTIs.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between the condition and his active service or any aggravation of it by his service-connected right foot fracture and bilateral shin splints.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including hypertension, back disability, and various musculoskeletal issues, but remanded the claims for shin splints and a penile condition for further development.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional evidence and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with dissociative disorder, alcohol dependence, and cannabis abuse. The claims for sleep apnea or any other sleep disorder, obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, hypertension, tension headaches, patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees, thoracolumbar scoliosis, and upper back and neck pain were denied.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and right sciatica with an effective date of August 17, 2022, but denied earlier effective dates for prostate disorder and GERD, as well as service connection for diabetes with diabetic neuropathy.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of entitlement to service connection for migraine, a right ankle condition, a left ankle condition, low back strain, and neck strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher initial disability rating for lumbosacral strain, and service connection for a left foot condition.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar, status post partial laminectomy and discectomy, an initial higher rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity (LLE) peripheral neuropathy, an initial higher rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity (RLE) peripheral neuropathy, and an initial compensable rating for lumbar scar due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 USC 1318 as the criteria were not met, and remanded the service connection for cause of death due to inadequate medical evidence.

The Board granted service connection for left knee instability, lumbosacral and thoracic strain, pain and dysfunction of the left wrist, and tension headaches. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for left knee instability effective May 11, 2021.