Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date prior to September 1, 2021, for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and remanded the claim for service connection for a low back disability.

The Board denied entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status prior to October 10, 2014, as the Veteran did not meet the threshold requirements for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, effective from January 1, 2012.

The Board granted service connection for a right ankle disability and remanded claims for lumbar spine, left knee, and left ankle disabilities.

The appeal is remanded to obtain new VA examinations and/or retrospective medical opinions, as the previous ones were based on inadequate evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a low back disability, and a cervical spine disability as there was no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA standards.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including heart disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder, dizziness, a headache disability, a gynecological disability, a left shoulder disability, and a low back disability, due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a back disorder and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran was also awarded a 40 percent rating for his radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that it was proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities.

The veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection and evaluation of several conditions.

The Board granted service connection for rhinitis, respiratory disorder (shortness of breath), low back pain (lumbar spine disorder), erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, tremors as secondary to PTSD, and migraines as secondary to PTSD.

The appeal was granted for service connection of a back condition, while the claim for a compensable rating for right lower abdomen scar and other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for gastroenteritis, diarrhea, back disability, and neck disability to ensure a medical opinion is obtained addressing both direct and secondary service connection theories.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative joint arthritis, finding a relationship between the current disability and in-service back pain.

The Board granted separate 20 percent disability ratings for urinary frequency and 30 percent disability ratings for a neck, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy. The Board also granted effective dates of September 28, 2022, for the grant of service connection for various conditions.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and kidney disease, while denying service connection for a low back disability, hip pain, and a neurobehavioral disorder. The claim for a gastrointestinal disability was remanded for further consideration.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, bilateral hearing loss, right upper extremity condition as secondary to a right shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's knee, cervical spine, upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain, and left ankle disabilities but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.