Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The appeal was dismissed as a matter of law because the Notice of Disagreement was premature regarding proposed reductions in disability evaluations.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 60 percent for asthma and COPD, but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The appeal for increased ratings and earlier effective dates regarding the low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed as there are no additional errors of fact or law for appellate consideration.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but granted an initial 20 percent evaluation for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to June 12, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for asthma, right knee strain, left knee strain, and thoracic and lumbar degenerative arthritis with lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Board remands the claim for a back disability to provide the veteran with a VA examination and opinions regarding his claimed condition.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension is granted, while the evaluation greater than 20 percent for hemorrhoids is denied. Several claims for service connection are remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to a low back disability. The Veteran was also granted an initial 30 percent rating for each condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a back condition, and the claim is dismissed.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on a presumptive basis.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spondylosis as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the criteria provided.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 40 percent for the lumbar condition and 30 percent for the cervical condition, but remanded other claims including service connection for a left elbow condition and evaluations for various knee and hand conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and compensation benefits due to new evidence being received after a previous denial.

The Board remands the claim for a back condition to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board dismissed all appealed issues, including service connection for OSA, a back disorder, a bilateral eye disorder, and entitlement to higher initial disability rating and TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar strain and left knee meniscus tear, both as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and GERD, assigned a rating of 20 percent for the back disability from March 31, 2021, and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and a higher rating for the right shoulder disability.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right foot disorder. The lumbar spine disorder was denied.

The Veteran's back and left ankle disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings, but his service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and entitlement to TDIU, as the evidence did not support a higher rating or unemployability due to service-connected disability.