Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the appeal for individual unemployability as moot and denied increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, but granted restoration of a 20% rating for right lower extremity femoral nerve impairment.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability had its onset during service.

The Board granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD and service connection for IBS, while remanding the claims for a higher rating for thoracolumbar spine muscular strain and service connection for left ankle disability.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, as an adequate VA examination has not been provided.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 11, 2015, for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine, C5-6.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for hepatitis C, a respiratory disability, a low back disability, and a cervical spine disability, as well as higher ratings for the left knee and right ankle disabilities, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an October 1991 military helicopter crash in South Korea.

The Board remands the case for further evidentiary development to ensure compliance with its prior remand instructions and to obtain additional medical records that may shed light on whether the Veteran meets the criteria/symptomatology picture for higher ratings.

The Board remands the matter for a new VA examination to address the inadequacies of the previous one and obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a lower back disability to ensure substantial compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding an adequate medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a compensable rating for sinusitis, and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss to obtain additional medical opinions.

The appeal for a higher initial rating for hyposmia and service connection for lumbar strain and painful bony prominence right lumbar spine has been dismissed.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability prior to March 16, 2021, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter, as well as the claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) prior to March 16, 2021.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with spinal stenosis to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's in-service events.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left hip disorders, right shoulder impingement, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with spinal stenosis and bulging disc. However, a 10 percent rating was granted from April 1, 2024, for both hips based on painful motion.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for hypertension and granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain effective March 6, 2020.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and initial rating due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board denied increased ratings for tinnitus, left ankle degenerative joint disease, and surgical scars, as well as earlier effective dates for service connection for right ankle strain with degenerative joint disease, right Charcot foot, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's left hip, right hip, left foot, right foot, left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected varicose veins and bilateral ankle disabilities.