Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for a VA lumbosacral spine examination to address the nature and etiology of any identified disability, including its relationship to active service and other service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the motion for revision of the December 2016 rating decision that denied an effective date prior to February 21, 2014, for a 40 percent disability rating for low back disability.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct duty-to-assist errors, including verifying Persian Gulf service and obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, TDIU, and SMC prior to October 11, 2016, as well as remanded issues related to a shoulder disability.

The Board granted service connection for back disability and sciatica of the right lower extremity, but denied it for sciatica of the left lower extremity.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and a left ankle disability due to inadequate medical opinions that failed to address the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board granted a separate 20 percent disability rating for radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU), but denied an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's back disability.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the lumbar spine disorder and to address the need for aid and attendance.

The Board found that the Veteran was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of his service-connected disabilities prior to July 11, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to April 16, 2015, for a compensable rating for a service-connected low back strain.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine disability (facet arthrosis), and left knee disability (osteoarthritis/degenerative joint disease) based on evidence showing chronic conditions in service with continuity of symptoms since separation.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings to ensure that all necessary development is completed.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis prior to August 10, 2020, but denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent from that date.

The Board denied the claims for entitlement to increased ratings for a back condition and bilateral lower extremity sciatic and femoral neuropathy.

The Board remands the case for additional development and consideration of various issues, including increased rating claims for low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee disability, right hip disability, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 10, 2022, as well as service connection for a right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevents her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and she has met the threshold minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU. Additionally, she is entitled to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and effective dates, except for granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and restored the 40 percent disability rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), while denying a higher rating for migraine headaches and remanding the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for a right thumb scar status post laceration and readjudicated the claims of entitlement to service connection for various disorders, finding new and relevant evidence in some cases.