Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for lumps in throat and sores in chest area, granted initial ratings of 50 percent for depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder and pes planus, and remanded readjudication of knee and back disability claims.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination to address deficiencies in the current VA back examination report.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, low back disability, right ankle disability, and right elbow disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that October 21, 2023 is the proper effective date as this was when he filed a properly formatted claim.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability and headaches, to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine condition, right and left sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia, and right and left hand conditions. The issues of initial disability ratings were remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, granted an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating of bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, and remanded several claims including service connections for various disorders.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic neck pain, sinusitis, right knee condition, left knee condition, and back condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board granted an effective date of July 16, 2008, for service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and spondylosis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 for a lower back condition, right shoulder condition, and left knee condition.

The appeal for a proposed decrease in the evaluation for the Veteran's back disability is dismissed because the proposed decrease was not effectuated.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, degenerative disc disease with osteoporosis ('back disability'), and remanded the claim of service connection for nasopharyngeal cancer as due to exposure toxins for the period prior to August 10, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and an initial compensable rating for a headache disability were remanded.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from February 11, 2019. He also received increased ratings for his radiculopathy in the right and left lower extremities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back condition and left arm condition as secondary to back condition due to a need for an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding no evidence of a current disability and that the symptoms reported were acute in nature.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, type II (DM), hypertension, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, skin condition, left knee disability, right knee disability, sciatic nerve disability, sleep apnea, and back disability, as there is pre-decisional error in the case and a VA examination(s) and addendum opinions are required to cure the error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a teeth condition for compensation purposes, as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or related to active duty.