Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and granted a 20 percent rating for the left ankle disability, while denying all other claims.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher. The claims for earlier effective dates for the separate ratings of sciatic and femoral nerve radiculopathy were denied, as well as the remanded claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for post-concussive headaches, but remanded the other issues.

The veteran withdrew his appeal, stating that he was rated at 100 percent and there are no remaining claims for appellate consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, finding that June 29, 2021, was the earliest possible date of claim.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and left total hip arthroplasty as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within a reasonable time thereafter, and the current conditions were not related to the Veteran's active duty.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and an initial evaluation of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a February 2024 rating decision that granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the Veteran's lower extremity disabilities due to insufficient evidence linking the two conditions.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a back disability and cervical spine disability due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including gastrointestinal disability, GERD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, left and right knee strains, hypertension, and chronic sinusitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back condition, acquired psychiatric condition, and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands all claims for service connection due to pre-decisional errors in the duty to assist, including missing service treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, including as secondary to service connected left foot hallux valgus with hallux rigidus, due to an inadequate etiology opinion.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lower back, left shoulder fracture and rotator cuff tendinosis with arthritis, and right ankle strain with pain.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and remanded several other claims, including service connection for various disorders.

The veteran was granted a 70 percent initial rating for somatic symptom disorder, and a 20 percent initial rating for intervertebral disc syndrome lumbosacral spine. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection and disability evaluations.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities for further development, including obtaining contemporaneous VA examinations.