Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for sciatic radiculopathy in the left and right lower extremities from April 16, 2020, but denied earlier effective dates and higher ratings prior to that date.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's participation in a toxic exposure risk activity during his service in Afghanistan, as required by the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act).

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a mid/lower back condition and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee status post fracture with degenerative changes due to duty to assist errors.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was granted, while other claims were denied or remanded. The low back disability claim was dismissed.

The appeal for an evaluation higher than 30 percent for service-connected PTSD was dismissed, and the initial evaluations for hemorrhoids, iron deficiency anemia, and other specified eating disorder were denied. The Board remanded several claims for further development.

The Board remands the matters for the agency of original jurisdiction to obtain outstanding, relevant private medical records.

The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer, dementia, tremors, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and a low back condition.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disability to ensure that VA's duty to assist is properly followed and that the Veteran receives every possible consideration.

The Board granted an effective date of April 22, 2020, for compensable ratings and service connection for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in the right and left lower extremities.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine based on direct service connection.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and alcohol use disorder, finding a nexus to in-service stressors. The other claims are remanded for further evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and chronic sinusitis but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for asthma, cataracts, congestive heart failure, low back pain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to a duty to assist error related to lost or destroyed service treatment records.

The appeal for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus was dismissed, and the claim for an initial disability rating higher than 0 percent for hearing loss was denied. Several claims for service connection were remanded.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, other than intervertebral disc syndrome, and lumbosacral strain; right lower extremity radiculopathy; and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding no evidence of a worsening of his conditions that would warrant an increase in compensation.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, other than intervertebral disc syndrome, and lumbosacral strain; right lower extremity radiculopathy; and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, lower back condition, and neck condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The appeal of the propriety of the reduction from 40 percent to 10 percent disabling, effective May 18, 2021, for service-connected degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew the appeal.