Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a back disability based on the Veteran's credible claim of continuity of symptoms since active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, right knee, and lower back conditions as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome based on the Veteran's in-service back injury and current disability.

The Board granted service connection for acute sinusitis, extrinsic asthma, headaches, a low back condition, right leg numbness as secondary to a low back condition, left leg numbness as secondary to a low back condition, a right knee condition, and a left knee condition. The initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and musculoskeletal issues, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for back disability as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or treatment post-service.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disorder to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's low back disorder was aggravated by his service-connected right hip strain.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, left elbow, and left shoulder conditions based on new and relevant evidence. However, these claims were also remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability rating and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of medication on the severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including a neck disorder, back disorder, right foot disorder, right hand disorder, right knee disorder, and right leg disorder, as further development is needed.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. The claims for increased ratings and service connection were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include chronic low back pain and dorsalgia, due to insufficient evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral femoral radiculopathy, bilateral sciatica lower leg, and low back condition due to duplicative filings under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The appeal was dismissed as the notice of disagreement (NOD) was not timely filed.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis. OSA was denied, and the PTSD rating was also denied.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD)/intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) prior to July 2, 2019, but denied a higher rating for the entire period. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, left and right hand disabilities, lumbar degenerative disc disease, left and right knee disabilities, hypertension, coronary artery disease, headache disability, vertigo, hiatal hernia/GERD, and effective date prior to June 28, 2018, for the award of service connection for other trauma and stressor-related disorder. The Board granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent, but no higher, for other trauma and stressor-related disorder and a TDIU.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 70 percent for major depressive disorder, and 20 percent each for left and right lower extremity neuropathy/radiculopathy. The lumbar spine disability was denied a higher rating, and the effective dates for service connection were adjusted.