Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for headaches, neck disability, back disability, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, and radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities to correct a duty to assist error.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for lumbar strain due to a timely filing of the VA Form 10182. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied as the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, a left knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder based on the evidence of record.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral lower extremity sciatica to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the December 2021 decision on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for COPD, a back disability, and erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to the service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent, and TDIU was also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spinal condition, including a status post T12 fracture with degenerative arthritis and anterior wedge fractures in the lower thoracic spine.

The Board granted the reinstatement of a 60 percent rating for urinary incontinence effective March 23, 2024, and denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and service connection for plantar fasciitis.

The Board remands the claim for a back condition to obtain an additional VA opinion that considers the Veteran's lay statements and the broader evidentiary picture.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings as a matter of law due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current disability is etiologically related to his in-service duties as a helicopter mechanic.

The Board remands the case for a retrospective opinion regarding the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected back condition from October 2000 to the present, as none of the VA examinations satisfied the requirements of Ingram.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disability as there was not substantial compliance with the previous remand order, and an addendum opinion is needed.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability due to missing service treatment records and service personnel records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating and earlier effective date of service connection for his back disability was partially granted, with a 40 percent disability rating assigned from May 10, 2010. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a left hip disability, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with arthritis. The right hip disability was denied.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, left and right hand conditions, upper or lower back condition, neck condition, left and right ankle disabilities, and left and right knee disabilities as there was no evidence of a current disability related to active service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for headaches, sinusitis, and a back condition but remanded all other claims for further development.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's back and hip disabilities, as the evidence did not support higher disability ratings based on the criteria provided.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and a compensable rating for the Veteran's lumbar DDD, cervical DDD, and neck scar, as well as higher ratings for these conditions.