Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for migraine headaches, effective January 1, 2024, and denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and increased ratings for various conditions.

The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 40 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy and remanded the claims for higher ratings for post operative residuals, multiple dislocations of the right shoulder with degenerative arthritis, and degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Board granted a 70% rating for PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as service connection for OSA, IVDS, lumbosacral strain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder rotator cuff tear, lumbar spondylosis with spinal stenosis, and right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy involving the femoral nerve.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings to allow VA to obtain additional evidence, including Social Security Administration records, private treatment records, and a medical opinion addressing the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The claims for higher ratings for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, left foot degenerative arthritis, and right foot degenerative arthritis are remanded due to an insufficient examination.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability and a lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to an in-service event.

The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for the spinal stenosis surgery scar and denied a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis. The claim for right ear hearing loss was readjudicated based on new evidence but ultimately denied.

The Board denied service connection for visual impairment and remanded the claims for cervical strain, eczema, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted effective dates of September 17, 2012, for the cervical spine disability and associated neurological impairments, headache disability; November 29, 2018, for the lumbar spine disability and associated neurological impairments of the bilateral legs; April 22, 2019, for the psychiatric disability; and April 22, 2019, for the six separately-rated bilateral hip disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left wrist degenerative arthritis, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, eye disability, and sciatica of the right lower extremity. However, it granted a 40 percent rating for back disability, service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to the back disability, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board granted an effective date of September 15, 2022 for the increased rating of 40 percent for low back pain and August 7, 2023 for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the service-connected lumbosacral strain status post spinal fusion L2-S1, but denied other claims.

The Board granted service connection for a mid-back and low back pain disability but denied service connection for right and left foot disabilities. The claims for other conditions, including a left shoulder disability, headache, and psychiatric disorder, were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the right hip, and right renal atrophy with renal insufficiency as secondary to the Veteran's left knee disability. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claim for a back strain to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset of her back condition during service.

The Board remands the claims for higher disability evaluations for migraines, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), adjustment disorder, and lumbosacral strain due to outstanding relevant VA treatment records.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease (DDD)/arthritis, based on continuity of symptomatology and presumptive provisions.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective April 30, 2021.