Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disorder as additional development is needed to address whether there was functional ankylosis during the appeal period.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left lower lumbar radiculopathy, and right lower lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's eligibility for benefits under the PCAFC due to a finding that he does not require personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board granted the request to readjudicate the claim for service connection for low back pain due to new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves, with effective dates from March 15, 2013. The Board also granted a TDIU and DEA based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg condition, sinusitis, lower back condition, and joint pain as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board granted service connection for a right hip disability, back disability, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy but denied the claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for timely filing of an appeal request, dismissing the attempted appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, otitis media, and a skin disability as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not support an increase in severity of the preexisting conditions during service or a link to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for right hand strain status-post fracture of the third metacarpal and denied service connection for various other conditions including a right ankle condition, foot disability (torn Achilles tendon), acquired psychiatric disability, ear condition, head injury, left leg disability, and low back disability.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, and GERD due to inadequate VA examinations that do not discount the beneficial effects of medication.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for headaches with auras and a 10 percent rating for temporomandibular joint disorders, unspecified. Service connection was denied for various conditions including disabilities causing numbness, hearing loss, hip and spine issues, chest pain, dizziness, erectile dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, wrist disability, shortness of breath, ankle and eye pain, and sleep apnea.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective March 8, 2023, but no earlier. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and reversed the severance of service connection for several conditions, including hypothyroidism, scars status post thyroidectomy and laryngeal cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2, glaucoma, and laryngeal cancer.

The Board granted an effective date of February 25, 2025 for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and levoscoliosis.

The Board granted an effective date of May 18, 2023 for the grant of service connection for right finger weakness and stiffness.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and joint disorders due to a need for additional evidence and an adequate VA examination.