Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied readjudication of the claim for service connection for right hip pain, as secondary to a service-connected condition, and remanded the claim for low back pain, also linked to a service-connected condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back, bilateral knee, and right ankle conditions to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the March 2022 rating decision on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability, effective January 24, 2022. The Board also granted an earlier effective date for GERD.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent disability rating, and earlier effective dates for service connection of left hip and thigh iliopsoas tendonitis were denied. Several issues related to increased ratings and remands were also addressed.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for migraine headaches as it was previously granted. The claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) with bruxism, left ear hearing loss, and a compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss were remanded due to errors in the RO's prior adjudications.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, as he is shown to be employed fulltime as a police officer earning over $67,000 per year.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability and musculoskeletal issues, to ensure appropriate development of evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral strain, and right knee osteoarthritis, so the Board has no jurisdiction to review this claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for service connection and increased ratings for kidney disease, hypertension, headaches, PTSD, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was dismissed due to a withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 22, 2004, for adjustment disorder with anxiety.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to hypertension and assigned a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss from May 11, 2023, through August 9, 2024.

The Board denied service connection for a neck and back disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an injury or disease during active service.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a back disability, and a neck disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it had its onset during service and persisted until his death.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to an impermissible concurrent election of review lanes.

The Board remands the claim for a back disorder to obtain an addendum opinion that considers all evidence of record, including lay statements and medical records.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, low back disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral pes planus. The Veteran was also granted an initial 70 percent rating for his major depressive disorder.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity effective February 18, 2021, and granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU).

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and disc disease, finding that the Veteran's condition started during his active duty and continued since then.