Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and lower back disability to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left iliotibial band friction syndrome (claimed as left knee injury) was dismissed due to a concurrent election error.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective September 14, 2012.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for psychiatric disability, lumbosacral spine disability, gastrointestinal disability, bilateral wrist disability, and bilateral eye conditions based on new evidence being presented.

The Board denied readjudication of the right shoulder disability claim, granted readjudication of the acquired psychiatric disorder claim, and denied earlier effective dates for back, knee, and radiculopathy claims as well as increased ratings for various disabilities.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for higher ratings of his low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent prior to January 13, 2022, for lumbar strain and bilateral facet hypertrophy.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, right knee disability manifested by pain, and left knee disability manifested by pain. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to a failure to obtain necessary private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU, effective July 10, 2003, is granted.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied service connection for tuberculosis and an increased rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's back disability is granted an initial rating of 40 percent, but not higher. The claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Board denied service connection for both a neck and back condition, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's active service and these conditions.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for gout, migraine headaches, and a back condition as untimely. The claim for a compensable evaluation of thrombocytosis was denied due to lack of evidence supporting continuous or intermittent myelosuppressive therapy, chemotherapy, or interferon treatment. The issues regarding sleep apnea and myelofibrosis with abnormal weight loss were remanded for further examination.

The Board remands the service connection claim for spina bifida, lumbar spine due to a duty to assist error in not obtaining identified private treatment records and SSA disability records.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the assignment of ratings and service connection, finding no basis to award an earlier date than May 28, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, left hip, and left wrist disabilities, as well as tinnitus.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with scoliosis and service connection for chronic sinusitis with maxillary sinus cyst, while remanding the claim for irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board denied increased ratings for a back condition, bilateral hearing loss (BHL), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and right lower leg numbness as secondary to the back disability, finding no evidence supporting a causal link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.