Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issue of the propriety of reducing the veteran's disability rating for his back condition from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective June 3, 2024, due to an inadequate pre-decisional medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with DDD, a cervical condition as secondary to the claimed lumbar degenerative changes, and bilateral upper extremity nerve conditions as secondary to a cervical disability.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including a back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome, and migraine headaches, among others. It also granted increased ratings for PTSD and moderate, recurrent, major depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Board remands the claim for a back condition to obtain additional evidence and an updated medical opinion, as the previous VA examinations were found inadequate due to inaccurate factual premises.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy on a secondary basis, finding the evidence to be in equipoise.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and denied it for left flat foot (pes planus), while remanding the claims for right foot pes planus and right wrist disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathies of both lower extremities, as well as left inguinal hernia and its scar.

The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent rating for right and left hip limitation of extension, denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for back disability, and denied increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and left knee strain to obtain additional medical evidence through a new VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and multiple musculoskeletal conditions but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for metabolic syndrome and remanded claims for diabetes, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and tension headaches due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and higher ratings for lumbar spine and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and granted a 40 percent disability rating for right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, while denying all other claims.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, including lumbar disc bulge, lumbar scoliosis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for an intestinal disability, manifesting as irregular bowel movements causing impairment in earning capacity. The Veteran was also denied a higher initial rating for low back pain with degenerative arthritis, stenosis, and strain, but granted a 10 percent rating from March 30, 2024, for tension headaches.

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain, left hip strain, right hip arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee. The appeal was denied for service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for a back condition and neck condition.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and denied increased ratings for several service-connected disabilities, as the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or aggravation related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings, as well as a TDIU prior to April 8, 2022.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent prior to June 5, 2023 for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability based on the evidence showing forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was no worse than 45 degrees.