Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the matter for a VA medical opinion concerning the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, specifically addressing an April 1980 report of medical history indicating back pain.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA medical opinion to address the Veteran's statements regarding recurrent strains in service and their progression over time.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Other claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a headache condition and assigned a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, while denying increased ratings for the low back condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The obstructive sleep apnea and right knee conditions were remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, as well as right upper extremity radiculopathy of the upper and middle radicular nerve groups.

The Board denied a compensable rating for hypertension and granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD prior to January 17, 2024, while denying an increased rating on and after that date. The issues related to the lumbar strain and GERD were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back, neck, bilateral leg, and bilateral hand disabilities to ensure compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine; lumbar strain, as the Veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to July 14, 2022, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, as well as service connection for right and left foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, considering his ongoing pain and flare-ups that limit forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less.

The Board denied service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety, major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, migraine including migraine variants, near-syncope (claimed as vasovagal syncope), thoracolumbar strain (claimed as musculoskeletal mid/lower back thoracolumbar spine), and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, a bilateral breast condition, a back condition, and a dental and oral condition as secondary to persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus II, a heart stent, chronic kidney disease stage 3, anxiety with stress, and a lumbar spine disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of December 9, 2022, for a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD and DEA benefits. The claim for SMC at the 's' rate for housebound status was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities, even when combined, were not of sufficient severity to render him unable to secure or follow substantial gainful employment in the field for which he is educated and experienced.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and type II diabetes mellitus, but granted an effective date of October 23, 2023, for special monthly compensation based on the need of aid and attendance of another.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a back disability to obtain an addendum opinion that addresses the Veteran's theory of secondary service-connection.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examination reports that do not properly account for flare-ups.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability based on the evidence of record.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a back disorder to obtain an addendum opinion and outstanding private treatment records.