Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for back, neck, headache, and upper extremity disabilities as the evidence did not show that these conditions were caused by VA carelessness or negligence.

The claims for service connection for cervical strain, back condition, bilateral knee condition, and left humerus bone tumor are remanded due to the need for further clarification of the Veteran's service dates and outstanding medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, back disorder, and neuropathy as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, left hand condition, and right hip condition as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension is dismissed as the claim has been fully granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, fatigue, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded for further development.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) for the period from August 29, 2014, to June 16, 2019.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of both knees, hypertension, and a lower back disorder to obtain private medical records from Dr. B. Taylor.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy to obtain military pay records and clarify any potential Reserve service that could be considered qualifying service.

The appeals for increased ratings and service connection were withdrawn by the veteran's authorized representative.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and right ankle pain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome, but denied an earlier effective date for the evaluation of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed, and the claims for rhinitis, paralysis of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve, a neck disability (cervical strain), right upper extremity nerve damage, back disability (lumbosacral strain), and paralysis of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve were denied or remanded.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of December 6, 2005, for the award of a 10 percent rating for both the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities due to clear and unmistakable error in the prior decision. The back disability claim was denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine, GAD with PDD, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, thoracolumbar, and migraine disabilities. The claims for service connection for acne or residuals of acne, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic sinusitis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), respiratory insufficiency (dyspnea) were remanded.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the low back disability, denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, granted a separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence supports a relationship between the Veteran's current condition and her military service.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, low back, neck disorders and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as there was no evidence of a current disability or that the claimed conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and low back disorders to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on a need for aid and attendance, as her service-connected disabilities did not necessitate regular assistance from another person. The claim for housebound criteria was dismissed as it had already been granted in a previous decision.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, a left elbow disability (claimed as osteoarthritis), and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lower back condition, bilateral hip condition, and paralysis (claimed as a bilateral sciatic nerve condition) to obtain additional evidence.