Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its secondary conditions of peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities as well as left lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service.

The Board granted service connection for left eye chronic conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and right ankle sprain. Service connection was denied for a right hand status post laceration disorder, neck disorder, dental trauma and gingivitis, back disability, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, pelvic fracture, and left eye disability.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the ratings assigned for a lumbar spine disability and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability. Service connection was also granted for fecal incontinence.

The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected back disability and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis, but no higher. The claim for an increased rating for right knee strain with arthritis was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a rib deformity, and remanded the claims for left (minor) shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and bilateral hip disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the issue of a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome to obtain additional evidence and address the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board remands the claims for a lower back condition and ulcerative colitis to obtain new VA medical opinions.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a higher disability evaluation for lumbar spine sprain and entitlement to TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's condition, particularly concerning the effects of medication on his range of motion.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to various conditions, as the issues were remanded under the modernized appeal system.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for a back disability for an adequate medical opinion.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his back and left knee disabilities to ensure compliance with its previous remand instructions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for various conditions, as no evidence was found to support a claim prior to September 28, 2023.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 20 percent for lumbar strain and lumbar radiculopathy, but the increased ratings were denied.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, residuals of stroke, and osteoarthritis right hip including right thigh injury. The Veteran's disability rating in excess of 40 percent for osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine was denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a skin disability, lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability due to procedural defects. The appeal for service connection for a recurrent sleep disability was denied.

The Board dismissed several appeals for higher disability ratings and effective dates, but remanded issues related to fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the current condition and an injury sustained during Reserve service in 1984.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain with lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.