Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) with degenerative arthritis and retrolisthesis from February 16, 2021. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine, left ankle, and GERD disabilities but denied higher ratings for the right shoulder and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for urinary incontinence, and a higher rating for lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as service connection for various conditions, except for a granted rating of 30 percent for GERD throughout the period on appeal.

The veteran withdrew her appeals for the issues of service connection for bilateral patellar tendinitis, tinnitus, and the proposed reduction in her disability rating for cervical stenosis/IVDS.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for adjustment disorder, bilateral pes planus, right knee limitation of extension, and left knee limitation of extension. The Board also granted service connection for a back condition as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and initial increased ratings for various conditions, as well as remanded several issues for further development.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease, status post fusion and discectomy with limitation of motion, effective August 10, 2023. The Board also granted service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's cervical spine disorder.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine to correct a duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claim for a back disability to provide an adequate statement of reasons and bases, as it failed to address relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded a claim for service connection for right hip pain.

The Board remands the claim for a lower back condition secondary to a service-connected left knee condition due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding aggravation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pneumonia and an increased rating for asthma, and remanded several other claims including those for heart condition, chronic low back condition, diabetes mellitus type II, GERD, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during his service and has progressively worsened since separation.

The appeal for an increased rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder and other disabilities was denied, with no increase in the assigned ratings.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis as it is not etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, right knee strain, and left knee strain on a direct basis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for chronic low back pain, upper back pain, right hand disability, left hand disability, headaches, and right knee disability.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, with the exception of granting a 10 percent rating for right knee instability.