Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for back condition and major depressive disorder, but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder. The Board also granted an initial rating of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disorder.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected lumbosacral strain, as the previous examination was found inadequate.

The Board denied the claims for restoration of higher ratings and service connection for hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support an improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board granted service connection for multiple musculoskeletal disabilities, including cervical spine degenerative disc disease and bilateral joint osteoarthritis, based on in-service exposure to PCBs.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues for further development.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back condition, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, due to insufficient evidence and non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board remands the issues of increased disability ratings for various conditions due to a failure to substantially comply with previous directives.

The appeal for a separate compensable rating and higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was withdrawn by the Veteran, leading to the dismissal of these claims.

The Board denied the claim for an increased rating for a lumbosacral spine strain disability, as the Veteran's lumbar spine symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain and right inguinal surgical scar.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, to include arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of accidental gunshot wound. The left knee disability issue was remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for additional evidentiary development.

The Board granted a 40% rating for bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and TDIU, but denied increased ratings for the back condition, lumbar scar, and other hip conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings, but granted a TDIU based on his combined service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for bipolar I disorder from June 21, 2021, and a TDIU from November 20, 2018, to June 21, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy but denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility for specially adapted housing is granted due to his service-connected disabilities affecting the function of balance and propulsion, precluding locomotion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back condition, right knee osteoarthritis, and GERD and hiatal hernia to obtain additional medical opinions.