Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, including chronic thoracolumbar strain, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, traumatic brain injury with vertigo, and others.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for DJD of the right hip with limitation of rotation and adduction, and higher ratings for DJD of the thoracolumbar spine.

The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative before a decision could be made.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle disorder and remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right knee limitation of flexion, and migraines due to inadequate VA examinations that did not discount the beneficial effects of medication.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and TBI, manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas; however, there was no showing of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for left knee meniscal tear and chronic rhinitis, but denied earlier effective dates for headaches and a left knee scar. Service connection was also granted for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various musculoskeletal and psychiatric conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the currently assigned 10 percent or 50 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and denied increased ratings for allergic rhinitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), lumbar strain, and cervical strain. A 50 percent rating was granted for migraines from January 11, 2021.

The claims for service connection for right and left hip conditions are dismissed as the benefits have already been granted in full. The claim for a lumbar spine condition is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left and right sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia, chronic headaches, and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to the lack of evidence supporting an in-service injury or disease.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to a service-connected lumbar strain, but denied higher ratings for lumbar strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and anxiety disorder, NOS.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, but remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, asthma, and depression with anxiety and childhood onset fluency disorder (stuttering) as there was no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal for service connection for various disorders as the VA Form 10182 was untimely.

The Board granted service connection for a skin disorder (tinea cruris) and an initial rating of 30 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome, but denied other claims including those for back disability, psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and various knee and ear conditions.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis status post total right knee replacement and a TDIU effective March 9, 2021. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for the Veteran's right leg length discrepancy and remanded the claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Scheuermann's disease and thoracic kyphosis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a spinal disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 for bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, right knee strain, and tinnitus due to the eligibility of VA treatment benefits not surviving the Veteran's death.