Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and left lower extremity disability, to include radiculopathy associated with the low back disability.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension was granted with an effective date of August 10, 2022, but a compensable rating was denied. Several claims for service connection were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and lumbar spine due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the December 2021 opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, right and left hip disabilities, and a compensable rating for a left tibial nerve injury due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board grants an earlier effective date of April 2, 2020, but no earlier, for the awards of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy; right lower extremity radiculopathy; status post arthroscopy right knee limitation of flexion; increased disability rating for status post arthroscopy right knee; and an increased disability rating for chronic back pain, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and spinal stenosis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a lumbar spine disability, and OCD as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right knee disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The left knee disability claim was denied.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's back conditions and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew all pending claims and chose to pursue subsequently filed supplemental claims for the same conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for a right index finger disability and a left knee disability, as concurrent elections are prohibited. An initial rating of 20 percent was granted for a back disability.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including the right and left hip, ankle, and flatfoot conditions due to insufficient evidence of current disability. The claims for shoulder strain, neck, back, and neurological conditions were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is linked to his in-service exposure to hazardous noise. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and depression are remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for asthma and lumbosacral strain due to a need for further development of the record, including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the matter to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error and obtain new medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for colitis and a lumbar spine disorder, to include degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues, including initial and increased ratings for various conditions and service connection claims.

The Board remands the matter of service connection for a back disability, as the June 2023 VA medical opinion is not adequate to address whether the Veteran's dextroscoliosis preexisted his service and was aggravated during his service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including dental trauma, chronic respiratory failure, headaches, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, low back disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, hemorrhoids, epigastric pain, thyroid disability, monoclonal paraproteinemia, and hip disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service back injury or chronic back pain during service and that the current condition is more likely due to post-service activities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for a right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and coccyx injury residuals with lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.