Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and remanded the claim for service connection for lumbar spinal stenosis.

The Board granted ratings for lumbosacral strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy, dismissed the appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches, and granted service connection for urinary incontinence and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and back disability (lumbosacral strain) based on the evidence showing onset during active duty.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, denied an increased rating for the low back disability, granted a 50 percent rating for depression, and granted TDIU. The appeal was partially successful with some issues being granted while others were denied.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disability to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion and addressing direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for a low back condition, sciatic nerve condition of the bilateral lower extremities (BLE), and an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, GAD, and PDD.

The appeal was denied as the Veteran's lumbar spine and right knee disabilities did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea and conditions related to PTSD, lumbosacral strain, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral shin splints, have warranted a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) at the l 12 rate from April 13, 2018.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for low back disability to correct duty to assist errors, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for various other conditions, including those of the feet, knees, spine, ankle, and nerves.

The Board granted restoration of the prior 20 percent rating for a lumbar disability, which was decreased to 10 percent effective August 16, 2023. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for rhinitis and denied an increased rating for the back disability from September 15, 2023. The left shoulder and OSA claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left and right ankle, left and right knee, and back disabilities based on the evidence of record.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, low back disability, knee strains, foot disability, and others, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disability and remanded the claims for back, right hip, and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and readjudicated the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a back disability based on new evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back condition, and neck and arm conditions as further development is needed.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as secondary to the lumbar spine condition. It also granted earlier effective dates for increased ratings and TDIU.

The Board granted an effective date of April 14, 2021 for the award of service connection for migraine headaches but denied earlier effective dates for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy and a higher rating for low back disability.

The Board remands the claim for a higher rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability due to an inadequate VA examination.