Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a chest scar, bilateral foot condition, and bilateral knee condition. The claims for hypogonadism and back condition were remanded.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent from November 13, 2009 to April 18, 2018 was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent since April 19, 2018 was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% evaluation, and TDIU was granted. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and back conditions as they were not caused by or due to an event or injury in service. The LUE radiculopathy claim was remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, but denied service connection for a hernia condition and hearing loss. The claims for flatfoot bilateral and another back disability were remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeals for service connection for a back disorder, PTSD, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a neck disability, a bowel disability, and a low back disability.

The appeal of the rejection of the December 2, 2013, NOD is granted, and an effective date of November 15, 2010, for service connection of low back disability is assigned. A 40 percent rating for the low back disability from February 3, 2016, is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise the July 1997 RO rating decision that granted service connection for lumbar paraspinal muscle strain and assigned a noncompensable rating, finding no clear and unmistakable error.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and cervical strain based on the evidence being approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and ptiriasis versicolor, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders to address pre-decisional errors, including proper verification of all periods of service and obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left hip and low back pain due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee disorders but denied service connection for a low back disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and headache disorder.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and lateral recess stenosis, finding that the Veteran's back disability was incurred during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in July-August 2013.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain from April 30, 2020, and separate 10 percent ratings for mild bilateral sciatic radiculopathy from April 30, 2020, through December 13, 2020. The claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain and for compensable ratings for resolved or asymptomatic bilateral sciatic radiculopathy were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for irritable bowel syndrome and lumbosacral strain, as well as remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for low back disability, finding that the Veteran's low back disability had its onset during active duty and has continued since then.

The Board dismissed all appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for the veteran's service-connected conditions, including depressive disorder, back disability, sciatica of the right lower extremity, and tension headaches.