Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus with right foot degenerative arthritis, and left, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical sprain and thoracolumbar strain, as well as dismissed her claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative discopathy, a mental health disability (anxiety), and a bilateral hip disability.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion that addresses the Veteran's lay statements and the evidence of record.

The Board denied increased ratings for multiple service-connected conditions, including tinnitus, GERD with hiatal hernia, major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, spinal stenosis with lumbosacral strain status post surgery, scars of the back, and radiculopathy in both lower extremities. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was also denied a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss is granted, while the claim for left ear hearing loss is denied. Several other claims are remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, radiculopathy of the right and left arms as secondary to cervical spine strain, chronic sinusitis, left ankle strain, cervical spine strain, and lumbar strain. An initial rating was assigned for each condition.

The Board granted service connection for low back disability, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and initial 30 percent ratings for migraine headaches, left knee strain, and right knee strain, effective January 28, 2021.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right shoulder strain and back condition due to a pre-decisional error in the duty to assist, requiring an adequate medical opinion or examination.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for anxiety condition and persistent depressive disorder as they were fully granted in subsequent rating decisions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left-hand, right-hand, low back, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and left ankle disability to ensure that VA's duty to assist is followed.

The Board remands the claims for a left elbow condition and a back condition, to include spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease, for further development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disorder to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, as well as service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and direct service connection for sinusitis.

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's condition had its onset in service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, low back disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability, as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship between the in-service events and the claimed conditions.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, but remanded claims for left and right hip conditions.

The Board remands the claims for post-polio syndrome and low back pain associated with preexisting scoliosis to obtain a medical examination and/or opinion in compliance with the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act of 2022 (PACT Act) and due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, a back disability, a left knee disability, a left shoulder disability, and tinnitus as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to inadequate medical opinions.