Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and remanded claims for asthma, pulmonary embolism, thyroid cancer, acute pancreatitis, breast cancer, hypertension, left knee condition, right knee condition, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board restored the 40% rating for lumbar spine disability, effective March 11, 2021, and denied an increased rating in excess of 10% prior to June 23, 2018, and in excess of 40% thereafter.

The appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss and entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for the service-connected left ear hearing loss was dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and an increased rating for other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder. The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of multiple joints were remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for the award of service connection for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and remanded claims related to other conditions.

The appeals for service connection for a back condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for status post arthroplasty, left knee; right knee degenerative arthritis; and a low back disability, with an effective date of January 28, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for cardiac arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, and a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, functional abdominal pain syndrome with abdominal pain and bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, respiratory insufficiency and dyspnea, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability were remanded.

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

The Veteran's appeal for specially adapted housing and an automobile allowance was granted, while the claims for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance and compensable ratings for lower extremity radiculopathies were denied.

The Board remands all claims for the RO to correct pre-decision duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral lumbar disc disease and sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including low back strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, eye disability, left and right elbow disability, right finger disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, left and right hand disability, sleep disturbances, and a left hip disability. The claims were denied due to the lack of evidence supporting a link between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic headaches and granted effective dates of June 13, 2020 for service connection for tinnitus and lumbosacral back strain. The claims for service connection for a dental disorder and increased rating for lumbosacral strain were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the claim for a low back disability.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee strains based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in prior rating decisions.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. Several service connection claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for depression and denied service connection for PTSD. The claims for right knee, left knee, right hip, left hip, and back conditions were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for the right foot condition and denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the lumbar spine condition, while remanding the claim for a right ankle injury.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disorder for new VA examinations to address the Veteran's lay reports of back pain since service and the inaccuracies in previous medical opinions.