Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disability to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected knee conditions caused him to become obese, which in turn caused his low back condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for erectile dysfunction, cervical strain, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy, except for a 40 percent rating from April 30, 2008, to October 26, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for numbness of the right and left upper extremities, a left foot disability, and found that further evidence is needed to determine the etiology of a left shoulder and lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and ratings for back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and urinary incontinence and frequency. However, a 40 percent rating was granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy from November 1, 2021.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, increased ratings, and service connection, with some issues being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for right knee pain, back condition, right wrist condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board remands the claims for higher ratings and a compensable evaluation due to inadequate examinations that do not comply with Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Board remands the claims for higher disability ratings for multiple service-connected conditions, including lumbosacral strain and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, PTSD with TBI, chronic lumbar sprain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and scars.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic left knee strain. The claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral sciatica, left ankle disability, left foot disability, and psychiatric disability were remanded.

The Board granted restoration of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the original decisions to sever these conditions were improper.

The appeal for service connection and effective date issues was dismissed as the claims were addressed by a separate decision.

The Board granted an initial 50 percent rating for PTSD and service connection for tinnitus, while denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Other claims were remanded.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with arthritis and service connection for a right elbow disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for spinal stenosis lumbar spine, as there was no evidence of a pending claim or intent to file a claim prior to February 10, 2024.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability effective September 14, 2020, and denied increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claims for PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and hypothyroidism, both due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents under the PACT Act. Other claims were either dismissed or remanded for further evidence.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder, but remanded the claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain and mild gastritis with reflux and grade A esophagitis.