Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for psoriasis and lumbosacral strain, but remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of adequate evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back disability, to include lumbosacral strain and thoracic strain, and cervical strain with degenerative arthritis due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of L2 compression fracture with degrative arthritis and special monthly compensation due to an inadequate examination report.

The appeal for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, a low back condition, and a right shoulder condition has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board remands the case to properly adjudicate the Veteran's November 2021 supplemental claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 12, 1982, for the award of service connection for a back disability based on the Veteran's informal claim.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a thyroid condition, bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, hypertension heart condition, lumbar spine disability, and psychiatric disability, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or related to active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back disability and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal.

The Board granted a 50 percent initial rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder and denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine arthritis, while denying earlier effective dates for the service connection of lower left extremity radiculopathies.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lower back disorder, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea to cure pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left knee osteoarthritis, and left ankle sprain, while denying service connection for hypertension. The Board also granted an initial 20% rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome but denied compensable ratings for bilateral pinguecula and a right ring finger disability.

The Board remands the case to obtain medical records related to physical therapy for the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as these records were not previously associated with the Veteran's VA electronic file.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 27, 2015, for a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease and entitlement to a total rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU), but denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for cervical disc disease with radiculopathy, secondary to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The Board also granted ratings of 50%, 80%, and 40% for various neurological conditions affecting the lower extremities, as well as a rating of 60% for hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver.

The Board denied service connection for low back pain and remanded the claims for a higher rating for right leg DVT and service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Board granted service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraines, right foot disability, lumbosacral strain, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a low back disability prior to June 12, 2017.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disability to obtain additional evidence and an updated medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to correct a duty-to-assist error related to VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for other conditions due to a lack of evidence.