Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for the back disability, bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and right great toe hallux valgus.

The Veteran was denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities prior to July 15, 2016.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder, thoracic spine disorder, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to deficiencies in prior medical opinions.

The Veteran's back disability has been productive of functional loss that more closely approximated at least favorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, warranting a rating of at least 40 percent from September 30, 2009.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right knee disability, as additional development is necessary.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis, granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee instability from September 29, 2011, and granted an initial 10 percent rating for vertigo from the same date. The Board also denied service connection for restrictive lung disease, hypertension, cardiac muscle damage, testicular and groin pain, neck disability, back disability, right hand disability, right elbow disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder and lumbar spine disorder, each with a 20 percent evaluation effective May 10, 2011.

The Board granted the restoration of a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome with spinal stenosis from October 13, 2022, due to improper procedural guidelines in implementing the rating reduction.

The appeal for service connection for left knee, lumbosacral strain, and cold injury of feet was granted based on new evidence. The claims for the other conditions were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right knee strain, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or continuity of symptoms. The claim for degenerative disc disease was remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee strain as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected right knee strain, but dismissed his appeal for tinnitus and remanded claims for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder (OST) due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, granted service connection for a left shoulder strain and an initial rating of 100 percent for right knee instability s/p ACL reconstruction, and remanded claims related to adjustment disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board dismissed the appeals for a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD, service connection for left hand and skin disorders, PTSD, and remanded the claim for service connection for a back disorder due to new and relevant evidence being submitted.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis lumbar spine, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities other than traumatic brain injury (TBI) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for left upper extremity radiculopathy, denied an increased rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy, restored the 20 percent rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, and related mental health conditions but denied left ear hearing loss. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, a respiratory disorder, and panic attacks were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left hip, right hip, left knee, right knee, back, psychiatric (anxiety neurosis), and sleep apnea disabilities. The claim for a schedular disability rating in excess of 50 percent for migraines was denied.

The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was dismissed due to a procedural defect. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.