Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for lumbosacral strain due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period between July 6, 2010, and September 30, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety and denied increased ratings for left knee strain, right hand little (5th) finger fracture, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The claims for radiculopathy and additional upper extremity conditions were remanded.

The appeal of service connection for degenerative disc disease was dismissed due to a procedural defect involving claims-processing rules.

The Board denied service connection for acne and remanded several claims, while granting a 10 percent rating for the headache condition from April 11, 2022, to May 5, 2023.

The Board remands the issues of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and left knee strain to correct a duty to assist error related to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted a restoration of the 20% rating for lumbar spine disability, an initial 40% rating since June 30, 2021, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and various ratings, as new evidence was not found to be relevant.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and remanded the claims for right and left lower extremity nerve pain due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for an increased rating and service connection due to procedural defects in his October 23, 2024, appeal.

The Board denied service connection for acid reflux and remanded the claims for a right ankle disability, lower back disability, radiculopathy, hip disabilities, and pes planus due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome and cervical strain, and assigned a 30 percent rating for IBS. The claim was denied for right knee scars and other knee-related issues.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity as secondary to cervical strain, an initial 30 percent rating for sinusitis effective from November 26, 2019, and a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine effective from November 26, 2018.

The Board denied increased evaluations for PTSD, left shoulder strain, lumbosacral strain, radiculopathy of the LLE sciatic nerve, and strains of both knees.

The Board remands the claims for further development due to incomplete evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his appeal for an earlier effective date for Dependents' Education Assistance.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic arthritis, thoracolumbar spine, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's active military service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, also referred to as low back condition, due to a need for additional development.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.