Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for both the thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with lumbosacral strain and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbosacral strain, with degenerative disc disease L4-L5 and L5-S1.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including headaches, shoulder and knee conditions, pelvic pain, uterus issues, and a low back disability, to ensure adequate medical examinations are conducted.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain and low back strain, finding the evidence was evenly balanced as to whether these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the matter for an additional medical opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder, specifically addressing his injury during a period of ACDUTRA in September 1988.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 5, 2022, for the award of a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD and granted special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate from that same date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, while the claims for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea were denied. The lumbar spine disability claim was remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disorder and left knee disorder to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and ensure compliance with a Joint Motion for Partial Remand.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and restoration of a 70 percent disability rating for depression, as well as increased ratings for left hip degenerative arthritis and lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and lower back disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for allergic rhinitis with acute sinusitis and an initial rating of 20 percent for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, while the claims for arthritis and increased ratings for lumbosacral strain were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disorder and a bilateral testicular disorder to obtain additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as anxiety. The claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities were remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between the current disability and an in-service injury.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings, granted readjudication on new evidence, and remanded several claims.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for back condition, neck condition, and headaches due to untimely filing of the appeal forms.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and persistent depressive disorder (PDD), based on evidence supporting a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.

The Board remands the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis to obtain additional evidence.