Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for lumbar strain, right knee scar, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee. However, a 60 percent evaluation was granted for the right total knee replacement effective July 24, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for shin splints, a respiratory disorder, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, back disorder, and bilateral knee disorder as there was no evidence of current disability or nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of June 26, 2009, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits was denied because she did not have an employment handicap and was able to obtain suitable employment consistent with her abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding functional loss during flare-ups, Raynaud's phenomena, and anemia.

The Board denied increased ratings for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder as the evidence did not support a finding that it was related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder with adjustment disorder and depressed mood is granted a rating of 50 percent, while his bilateral hearing loss is denied a compensable rating.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left hips, as well as degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran's surviving spouse.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, residuals of frostbite in the feet, and non-compensable evaluations for allergic rhinitis, headache disability, and right hand fifth finger injury. The claims for coronary artery disease, a skin disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection claims related to a lumbar spine injury, fibromyalgia, a left shoulder injury, and a cervical spine injury with traumatic arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine strain, hypertension, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, right hand tenosynovitis, left hand tenosynovitis, a right hip disability, and a left hip disability. The appeal was dismissed for sleep apnea, vertigo, a left knee disability, headaches, and coronary artery disease. Tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied higher ratings.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's degenerative disc disease and an extraschedular TDIU.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, right lower extremity neurological disability, and left lower extremity neurological disability to verify specific dates of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA and obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and bilateral pes planus to obtain relevant private medical records and provide the Veteran with an examination.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings for IBS, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and left knee iliotibial band friction syndrome with history of early medial and patellofemoral compartment arthritis to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability and a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied a compensable rating for lumbar surgical scars.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and granted service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar strain, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with MDD and remanded claims for service connection for a low back disability, cervical spine disability, and varicocele, right testicle.