Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left and right knee, shoulder, back, ankle, elbow, and sciatica conditions, due to a failure to provide adequate VA examinations and incomplete verification of National Guard service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left upper extremity, right upper extremity, and low back disabilities was dismissed due to failure to respond to requests for clarification regarding the preferred docket.

The Board denied service connection for a vision disability and remanded claims for back, neck, headache, ankle, respiratory, and dental disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining claims on appeal due to missing service treatment records that were later located.

The Board granted an increased initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected mood disorder due to known physiological condition, with major depressive-like episodes, and also granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to this condition. Additionally, TDIU was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral spine strain with additional diagnosis of laminectomy and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches, effective September 1, 2018.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, but denied higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an effective date of February 1, 2010 for the award of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy and a 20 percent rating. It also granted initial evaluations of 30 percent for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine from October 28, 1999.

The Board denied all initial disability ratings for the veteran's low back, left foot, left little finger, right wrist, tinnitus, and scars disabilities, except for a separate 10 percent evaluation for a painful scar of the back.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, back disorder, and bilateral foot disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period. The claim for a bilateral ankle disorder was remanded for further development.

The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 for diabetes mellitus, Type 2 with bilateral lower extremity neuropathy secondary to medications taken for high cholesterol was denied due to the lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease (DDD) thoracolumbar spine and neck pain/nerve damage, as there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his active-duty service.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for major depressive disorder (MDD) was denied as there is no evidence to support an earlier date than December 9, 2011.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep apnea, diabetes, a back condition, and loose teeth or bruxism as they need further development of evidence.

The Board denied a compensable rating for residuals of TBI and remanded several service connection claims.

The Board restored the 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain effective May 3, 2021, and remanded other issues including sciatic and femoral radiculopathy and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his back disability and service connection for a TBI.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, a compensable disability rating for the right elbow surgical scar, and a higher disability rating for lumbosacral strain. The TDIU claim was remanded.