Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance, loss of use of a creative organ, and service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected conditions have been granted.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability and neck disability, as well as the claim for entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU), for additional development.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for service-connected lumbar and shoulder disabilities due to errors in previous determinations regarding the duty to assist and the consideration of private treatment records.

The Board remands the issues for further development, specifically to obtain treatment records from VISTA imaging and ensure compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability beginning February 27, 2020, but denied increased ratings and service connection for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition and denied service connection for pneumonia. The issue of service connection for frostbite (feet) was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and remanded the claims for higher ratings and additional service connection.

The Board remands the claims to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's right to a pre-decisional hearing.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and type II diabetes mellitus as further development is needed.

The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder, but denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for the lumbar disorder and other conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right ankle impingement, left knee tendinitis, and low back condition to obtain an adequate medical opinion that addresses whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for headaches and right knee condition, but remanded other claims for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with lumbar disc disease and residuals of status post right knee replacement, to include osteoarthritis and ligament tear with knee instability.

The appeal for service connection for multiple conditions is remanded due to the AOJ's failure in its duty to assist, including verifying the Veteran's service and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent disability rating for osteoarthritis with degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and tenosynovitis of the thoracic spine, but denied a compensable rating for post herpetic neuralgia with neuritis of the left chest wall. The Board also denied effective dates prior to July 18, 2023, for increased ratings and service connection.

The Veteran's headaches are granted a rating of 30 percent from April 30, 2020. The Board remanded the claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for a back, neck, and bilateral hip condition due to untimely filing of the necessary forms.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis, OSA, back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability, back disability, and sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with other specified depressive disorder.