Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a back disorder, including on a secondary basis, as there is no probative and competent medical evidence to support that the Veteran's current degenerative changes of the lumbar spine are related to his active duty service or caused by his service-connected left second metatarsal disability.

The Board denied the claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate prior to August 22, 2018.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and a neck disability to ensure that VA fulfills its duty to assist in obtaining any outstanding service treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disability, but remanded claims for mental health disability, substance abuse, type two diabetes mellitus (DMII), hormonal imbalance, bilateral glaucoma, and left knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, lumbosacral strain with spondylosis, and end stage renal disease status post kidney transplant. The claims for left ear hearing loss, asbestosis, and tuberculosis were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disorder to obtain an addendum opinion that addresses the Veteran's lay statements and post-service treatment, as well as the June 2023 VA examiner's qualifications.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and remanded other issues for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, finding that his symptoms did not warrant higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Board denied service connection for right lower and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, a rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension. However, the TDIU was granted.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected left knee, lumbar spine, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy disabilities but granted TDIU from September 14, 2020, to November 20, 2022, and from June 21, 2023, to July 30, 2024.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, but granted a temporary 100 percent rating from April 14, 2021, through May 31, 2021, and a minimum 30 percent thereafter for the Veteran's right hip status post arthroplasty.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's back condition and a 20 percent disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands all service connection claims for a back condition, left and right foot conditions, left and right knee conditions, right shoulder condition, and sleep condition due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for latent tuberculosis and a back disability, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left shoulder, right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for left and right post total knee arthroplasty, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board remanded several claims for service connection and initial ratings, including cervical spine degenerative arthritis with strain, left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy middle radicular group as secondary to cervical spine degenerative arthritis with strain, peripheral neuropathy of the left hand, peripheral neuropathy of the right hand, lumbosacral strain, a left knee scar, and a right knee scar. The appeal for TDIU was dismissed as moot.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, back condition, and bilateral knee conditions due to a duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claim for a thoracolumbar spine disorder to obtain an adequate medical opinion.