Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Veteran's PTSD with acute TBI was increased from 50% to 70%, but no higher, while other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for left shoulder strain, DDD of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding flare-ups and baseline severity.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, but denied service connection for PTSD. The lower back disability claim was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a back disorder, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a back scar. The claims for hearing loss, headaches, traumatic brain injury (TBI), sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and restless leg syndrome (RLS) were denied.

The Board granted service connection for right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis and degenerative disc disease (DDD), cervical spine arthritis, right foot pain causing impairment in earning capacity, and left foot pain causing impairment in earning capacity on a direct basis.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with spondylosis and foraminal stenosis, as well as a separate 10 percent evaluation for left lower extremity radiculopathy from May 1, 2024. The claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was remanded.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent disability rating for right knee instability, effective March 11, 2024, and an earlier effective date of May 24, 2021, for a TDIU rating. SMC aid and attendance was also granted.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy based on impairment of the sciatic nerve, and an initial 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy based on impairment of the femoral nerve, for the period prior to January 24, 2023. The Board denied a rating greater than 20 percent for these conditions from that date. Additionally, the Board granted an initial 70 percent rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied a rating greater than 70 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as the evidence did not support a claim prior to August 27, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for a chronic right foot disability, a chronic lumbar spine disability, and a chronic right hip disability.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, lumbar strain, left foot plantar fasciitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, post traumatic residual pain dysfunction of the right wrist, right wrist surgical scars, bilateral tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The character of discharge was also found not to bar VA benefits.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, tension headaches, and a separate 10 percent rating for RIGHT knee instability, effective October 19, 2018. The increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, low back disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for back disability, neck disability, anemia, right shoulder impingement and degenerative arthritis, back scars, stenosis and facet joint hypertrophy of the lumbar spine and chronic thoracic myalgia, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and a 10 percent rating for GERD, effective May 19, 2024.

The Board dismissed the appeals for proposed rating reductions and denied higher ratings for leg compartment syndrome and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a low back disorder to schedule a VA examination to determine its likely etiology, including whether it is related to lifting heavy objects during service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of July 29, 2017, for the grants of service connection for lumbosacral strain of the thoracolumbar spine and related conditions.