Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's back and neck conditions, as well as service connection for major depressive disorder, left knee condition, and right knee condition.

The Board denied service connection for hypothyroidism, GERD, and bruxism. The Veteran's PTSD was not granted an earlier effective date prior to December 28, 2020, or a higher rating before April 23, 2021. The back disability claim was also denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's anxiety disorder, left shoulder strain, left ankle sprain, and lumbosacral strain. The claims for service connection for bilateral hip conditions were remanded, as was a claim to dismiss special monthly compensation based on anatomical loss of creative organ.

The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome but granted it for a lumbar spine disability. The rating for posttraumatic stress disorder was restored, and the claim for total disability based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The appeal for service connection for low back and neck disabilities was dismissed as there is no case or controversy before the Board on these issues at this time.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and higher ratings for the veteran's low back disability, left wrist disorder, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and low back disability, but denied service connection for a prostate disability, left ear hearing loss, and left knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, right hand disability, and tinnitus but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The claims for left ear hearing loss and lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left foot gout, and right foot gout as the VA opinions provided are incomplete and do not address the aggravation element of secondary service connection.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation due to a lack of sufficient evidence without further development.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability, left clavicle disability, scar of the left clavicle, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae (skin) disability, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a cervical spine disability as the evidence did not establish that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for lumbosacral strain due to an inadequate VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back condition and an initial compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disability, scars from an operation on the lower back as secondary to a lower back condition, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to a lower back disability due to lack of evidence supporting a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral leg pain but granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for tinnitus, major depressive disorder, low back disability, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, radiculopathy, right lower extremity, sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy, left lower extremity, sciatic nerve.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 2, 2010, to March 13, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition, claimed as a sprain, and a low back condition due to the lack of evidence showing current disabilities or symptoms causing functional impairment.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the lumbar spine disability from January 23, 2015, and denied a higher rating since September 1, 2018.

The Board granted service connection for a right middle finger condition, a lump on the right shoulder, and a low back condition based on evidence of in-service injuries and current disabilities.