Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for bilateral degenerative hip disability, chronic chest pain, left shoulder disability, and lumbar back pain as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities related to active military service.

The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted an effective date of September 3, 2019 for the service connection claims for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, residuals of left foot surgery, scar of the left foot, painful scar of the left foot, tinnitus, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for lower back disability, neck disability (cervicalgia), and persistent depressive disorder with cannabis use disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea was denied.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's back, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and a surgical scar, as well as earlier effective dates for these conditions.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a 30 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus. The claims for increased ratings for right hip degenerative arthritis and femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, and service connection for radiculopathy were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various service-connected conditions, except for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) which was granted effective August 9, 2017.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings for various conditions, granted an earlier effective date for left knee instability, and granted TDIU and DEA eligibility on and after April 27, 2021.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, as further development is needed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as service connection for various disabilities.

The Board granted an effective date of January 12, 2023, for the grant of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted restoration of the 20% rating for the back disability and radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, but denied increased ratings for other conditions.

The appeal was dismissed because the VA Form 10182 for service connection claims was not timely filed.

The Board remands the claim for an increased rating of a low back disability to ensure that VA's duty to assist is followed and that the Veteran is afforded every possible consideration.

The Board granted service connection for somatic symptom disorder, left knee osteoarthritis, and headaches. The Veteran was also granted increased ratings of 20 percent for degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine and 40 percent for status post ligament damage and acromioclavicular repair of the right shoulder with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and acromioclavicular joint degenerative joint disease.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and several related conditions, including radiculopathy of the lower extremities, neck disability, arm radiculopathy, headaches, left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and obstructive sleep apnea. The claim for higher ratings for depressive disorder and ankle strains was denied.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct duty to assist errors.

The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine (back disability) is remanded due to a lack of adequate notice for a VA examination.

The Board remands the matter for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's lumbar disability during flare-ups to be provided by an independent medical expert.