Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, right and left foot disability, chronic headaches, and hypertension. An initial increased rating of 30 percent was also granted for sinusitis.

The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis left hip and remanded the claims for bilateral flat foot, lumbosacral strain, and right knee strain.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral shoulder disability, back disability, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to in-service events.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and denied increased ratings for existing disabilities, as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or an increase in severity.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for the service-connected back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied a compensable rating for the post-surgical scar on the right great toe.

The Board denied service connection for Tietze syndrome, a left pectoral tear injury, anemia, and herpes simplex type 1. The initial ratings for various conditions were also denied.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back condition and a left knee condition, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The appeal concerning service connection for a rib fracture was dismissed due to the Veteran not timely filing a VA Form 10182 with the July 2022 rating decision appealed herein. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and effective dates as they were improperly filed under the new Direct Review docket system.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but granted an increase in rating for the sciatic nerve condition.

The appeal was dismissed for being untimely, and the claims for service connection for PTSD with bipolar depression and insomnia, a left knee disorder, a right knee disorder, and headaches were denied due to lack of evidence supporting current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board granted an effective date of October 26, 2022, for the award of a 50 percent rating for chronic sinusitis and a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), but denied an earlier effective date for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the current condition and an in-service injury or disease.

The Board granted initial ratings of 70%, 20%, and 50% for unspecified anxiety disorder, lumbosacral strain and sacroiliac sclerosis to include intervertebral disc syndrome, and migraines respectively, effective from June 1, 2021.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 11, 2012, for the award of service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of service connection for a back condition.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the claims for left and right lower extremity neuropathy and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, post-discectomy.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain (claimed as back pain) and remanded the claims for service connection for joint pain and scoliosis.

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, but denied service connection for sleep disturbances.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and assigned a 50 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with sacroiliac weakness and degenerative disc disease.