Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, finding no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to June 30, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. Service connection was denied for gastroesophageal reflux disease, diabetes mellitus, left subclavian artery thrombus status post thrombectomy, and lumbar spine disability. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sinusitis were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for migraine headaches and an increased rating for lumbosacral strain, and remanded service connection for a bilateral foot disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, headache disability, sinusitis, and sleep apnea, to include as secondary to sinusitis.

The Board granted service connection for chronic left and right wrist disabilities, but remanded the claims for other finger, thumb, hip, and back conditions due to a need for further evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral strain and remanded several other claims related to service connection for various conditions.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches and denied service connection for tinnitus. The other claims, including a back disorder, sleep disorder other than insomnia, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability and remanded the claims for other left lower extremity radiculopathies, foot, ankle, leg, and back disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to assess the orthopedic manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected right hip disabilities, including consideration of the ameliorative effects of medication taken for pain relief.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and RLE radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back condition.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but denied higher ratings and service connection for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine disability, right knee strain, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right ankle strain on a direct basis. The Board also granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability, left wrist disability, right hip disability, and bilateral flat feet due to inadequate medical opinions and missing service treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew all pending claims and appeals, effective December 11, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, while remanding the claims for service connection for other disabilities and an initial rating for left foot pes planus.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and lumbosacral strain, and a 30 percent evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) effective May 17, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for the low back, acquired psychiatric condition, and TDIU. The claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, dermatitis, and special monthly compensation were denied.

The Board denied an increased rating higher than 20 percent from November 30, 2023, for the Veteran's low back disability.