Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The appeal seeking service connection for herniated disc L4-5 status post right L4-5 hemilaminectomy with discectomy was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it on May 2, 2024.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and ratings for various conditions, but granted a 40% rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy from July 22, 2008, and left lower extremity radiculopathy from June 15, 2008.

The Board granted annual clothing allowances for the 2022 calendar year for a back brace and betamethasone topical medication due to their respective impacts on the Veteran's clothing.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain and asthma, finding that the evidence supports direct causation.

The Board restored the 10 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain, denied a compensable initial evaluation for right and left hip strains, granted service connection for right shoulder strain, and remanded claims for increased evaluations and additional service connections.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to properly assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including accounting for flare-ups and medication use.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, left hip strain with limitation of extension, and left hip strain with limitation of flexion.

The Board is remanding all issues for development due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failure to obtain relevant service and VA treatment records.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to obtain additional evidence.

The Board granted an effective date of July 31, 2012, for the award of service connection for lumbar DDD and bilateral extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the service-connected low back strain with mild facet arthrosis L5-S1, but remanded the matter of entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tinnitus, lumbar spondylosis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, anxiety, bilateral tinea pedis, left knee condition, right knee condition, bilateral pes planus, low back strain, migraines, and non-specific respiratory condition as there was no evidence of a current disability at any time during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board remands the claims for a back condition, dental disability for compensation purposes, and noncompensable dental disability for outpatient treatment due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, prostate cancer, skin disorder, kidney disability, gastrointestinal disabilities, tongue disability, and back disability as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a nexus between the claimed conditions and military service.

The Board granted service connection for a mental health disability, chronic headaches, and a low back disability. It also granted increased ratings for certain conditions but denied others.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence supports the conclusion that the Veteran's back disability began in service and has continued since service.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a new examination with an orthopedic specialist.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spondylitic changes at L4-L5 and lumbar degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and bony deformity of the mandible.

The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal disorders and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.