Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a broken nose, deviated septum, low back disability, left foot numbness, right foot numbness, sinus disability, left elbow and forearm disability, left knee disability, and right shoulder strain. Service connection was granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and left hamstring strain. The Board also denied an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with residuals of a traumatic brain injury, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for fibromyalgia, and an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea. The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as a result of service-connected disabilities prior to December 1, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, and remanded the claims for tinnitus, GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis, low back disability, left lower extremity pain and numbness, and right lower extremity pain and numbness.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain with IVDS, and left shoulder strain as secondary to a lateral collateral ligament right ankle due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and left shoulder disorder as new evidence has been received since previous denials.

The Board denied a rating higher than 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability both prior to April 28, 2021, and from November 1, 2021.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran was granted a disability evaluation of 20 percent for lumbar spine strain residuals prior to February 10, 2020, and entitlement to TDIU. The rating in excess of 20 percent on and after February 10, 2020, for the same condition was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities, including lumbar spine, right hip bursitis, right shoulder, right knee, and cervical spine disabilities, to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between the disability and active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability to obtain additional medical opinions that adequately address the evidence of record.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected back condition based on the evidence of record.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining a complete set of service treatment records and scheduling additional VA examinations.

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from July 29, 2020, through September 3, 2020, and remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) and a left shoulder strain, but denied service connection for lumbar spine arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that the evidence was approximately balanced as to whether these conditions were caused by an injury or event during active service.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability for further development, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for the left and right eye disabilities, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, musculoskeletal disabilities of the neck/upper back and mid/lower back, left knee disability, right knee disability, sinus disability, sleep disturbance, and throat disability as there was no evidence of a superimposed injury or disease during service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and denies an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS was granted a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, from February 16, 2021. The claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine and left shoulder disability as the March 2021 VA examinations are found to be inadequate.