Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pituitary mass, but denied increased ratings for chronic sinusitis, deviated nasal septum with rhinitis, chronic pharyngitis with a history of strep throat and rhinitis, pituitary mass with migraine headaches, hypertension, hypothyroidism, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions, including impotence, headaches, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities.

The veteran was granted an initial rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with somatic system disorder with persistent pain, effective from November 21, 2019. The other claims were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cardiac arrhythmias, lumbar spine pain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a VA examination is conducted.

The Board denied service connection for various claimed disabilities, including right and left knee replacements, ankle sprains, neck strain, lumbosacral strain, rotator cuff tear, shoulder dislocation, and sleep apnea, as the evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection, and the character of his discharge from service does not bar receipt of VA monetary benefits.

The appeal resulted in the denial of earlier effective dates for service connection and remanded several issues related to initial ratings.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain with bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and remanded the other issues for further development.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy effective July 26, 2021, and a similar rating for lumbar strain from July 28, 2016 to September 9, 2021.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and sciatic nerve radiculopathy due to a failure to substantially comply with previous remand directives.

The Board is remanding the claims for a new examination to provide an adequate statement of reasons or bases regarding whether higher disability ratings are warranted.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to April 19, 2023, but dismissed the appeal for a higher rating from that date. The decision also denied special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and a rating in excess of 20 percent for a thoracolumbar spine disability, characterized as degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis, are remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and a low back disorder as secondary to the foot disorder, both for substitution purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with DDD of the lumbar spine is granted an initial rating of 40 percent, and a TDIU is also granted.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence supports a direct link between the Veteran's in-service injury and his current condition.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a low back disability, and a left shoulder disability. The decision also remanded several other claims for further development.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine conditions based on the evidence being in approximate balance regarding their etiological relation to active-duty service.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis, cervical spine; ankylosing spondylitis, lumbar spine; chronic fatigue syndrome; left hip strain; and tendinosis, right hip. However, it denied service connection for ankylosing spondylitis, cervical spine; ankylosing spondylitis, lumbar spine; left hip strain; tendinosis, right hip; bilateral plantar fasciitis; and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.