Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the current disabilities and the Veteran's in-service activities.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left ankle disabilities. The claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability was denied.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities as secondary to lumbosacral strain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and an initial disability rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders due to a failure to obtain VA opinions despite evidence of in-service and post-service symptoms.

The Board granted initial evaluations of 50 percent for lumbar degenerative disc disease, 30 percent for left knee strain, and 20 percent for left knee instability.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 4, 2019, for the 20 percent rating of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and service connection for radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle arthritis, a back disorder (claimed as strain and arthritis), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety) based on the evidence not supporting a link to service.

The Board granted an effective date of August 16, 2011, for the award of a 20 percent rating for low back disability and service connection for right and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea, but granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease on a presumptive basis.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle, posttraumatic residual pain and denied increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus and lumbar spine pain with degenerative arthritis. The thoracic spine pain claim was remanded.

The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent rating for the Veteran's bilateral dry eye condition status post PKR surgery/LASIK with meibomian gland dysfunction, and granted service connection for chest pain. The Board also granted a 40 percent disability rating for lumbar degenerative arthritis with spondylolisthesis from May 17, 2022.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and granted a 10 percent initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee scars, and initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for the painful scar of the posterior trunk and remanded claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine herniated disc and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board denied an increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded several issues including service connection for PTSD, increased ratings for various hip and back conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a sore throat and remanded the claims for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate medical evidence.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic residual pain and dysfunction of lumbar spine, but denied an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from May 29, 2021.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation, as well as remanded a claim related to his spine disorder.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a back disability and a temporary total evaluation due to treatment requiring convalescence for a back disability beginning June 15, 2021, to obtain private treatment records.