Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as remanded several issues including service connection for bilateral shoulder conditions.

The appeal for service connection for lumbosacral strain is dismissed as the issue is moot due to a full grant of benefits in an October 2022 rating decision.

The Board remands the claims for increased initial disability evaluations for right shoulder impingement syndrome, restless leg syndrome, and lumbosacral strain to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, except for a separate rating for right knee instability.

The Board granted service connection for headaches secondary to service-connected sinusitis associated with service-connected rhinitis and remanded the remaining issues for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher initial rating, and service connection for various disorders, including those secondary to the left knee disability with obesity as an intermediary step.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for revision of a December 2008 rating decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for disc degeneration lumbosacral, right hip disability, left hip disability, insomnia, and right knee disability.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection claims related to neck, back, right knee, and left knee disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as major depression and anxiety, secondary to the back condition. The right knee condition was remanded for further development.

The appeal for service connection for a right hip disability was dismissed due to non-compliance with essential claims-processing rules. The claim for service connection for a low back disability is remanded for further development.

The appeal for service connection for a low back disability is remanded to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board remands all service connection claims for further development, including VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board granted initial ratings of 40 percent, but not higher, for a back disability; 30 percent, but not higher, for cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), left hip disability, migraine headaches, sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right thumb pain, right ring finger pain, lipoma scars, lumbar strain with spondylolisthesis, and non-compensable disabilities. However, it granted a 40% rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy with restless leg syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for anemia and back disability to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the September 2024 rating decision on appeal.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for sleep apnea and remanded the service connection claims for a lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, increased ratings, and readjudications of 1151 claims, as well as dismissed certain appeals.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disability, and a back disability to obtain additional medical opinions.