Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for bilateral cataracts, restrictive lung disease/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, and low back pain/back osteoarthritis. The claim for a compensable initial disability rating for hypertension was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and skin disability, to include as due to herbicide agent exposure, for further development of the record.

The Board denied an effective date prior to February 10, 2021, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with alcohol and cannabis use disorders, as well as increased ratings for various disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several other issues, including a claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA effective dates were granted as of July 7, 2020, but no earlier.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining claims for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back condition and right lower extremity nerve condition, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, for further development of the record.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, sinusitis, and a nerve disorder other than service-connected bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy. However, it granted an initial 20 percent rating for left great toe gout and a 50 percent rating for migraines.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a low back disorder, neuropathy of both lower extremities, shoulder and knee conditions, as further development is needed to address the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 9, 2020 for lumbar strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient medical evidence regarding flare-ups and medication effects.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted a 40 percent rating, and other benefits including TDIU, DEA eligibility, and SMC are also granted.

The appeal seeking revision or reversal of the December 2019 and February 2015 rating decisions on the basis of CUE was dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back and nerve disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and remanded the claims for service connection for mid/lower back, left hip, and right hip conditions.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of October 26, 2011, for the award of service connection for a low back condition. The claims for earlier effective dates for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and DEA eligibility, and remanded claims for TDIU, SMC based on housebound status, and lumbar disability.

The Board granted service connection for alcohol use disorder, which is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or etiological relationship to active duty service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right shoulder, right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain with IVDS, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the now service-connected cervical strain, increased ratings for headaches, back disability, and sinusitis.