Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot arthritis was granted, while the claim for an epidermal inclusion cyst was dismissed. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a lack of complete National Guard records and outstanding non-VA medical records, as well as inadequate VA opinions.

The Board granted service connection for tension headaches and low back condition as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder, and granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder. Several foot and other disabilities were remanded for further evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, as he did not meet the schedular criteria and there was no reasonable possibility that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability for additional development, specifically requiring an addendum opinion that addresses the role of an altered gait caused by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to insufficient efforts in obtaining federal employment records from OPM or NPRC.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left hip and back condition, as well as the TDIU claim, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee instability, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), as well as his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance, to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a back condition to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including verifying periods of active service and obtaining a VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical strain, lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, knee strains, psychiatric disorders, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, shoulder disabilities, breathing disability, foot disability, headache disability, and joint disability, to provide the Veteran an additional opportunity for examinations and opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, recurrent lumbar spine disability, and recurrent bilateral leg disabilities as the Veteran has not been afforded VA examinations to determine their relationship to active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection claims, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review them.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed as it was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine disability and thoracolumbar disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities are related to in-service combat injuries.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the ratings and service connection of various conditions, including other reactions to severe stress with persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and panic disorder, migraines, cervical strain, degenerative disc disease, and degenerative arthritis, as well as sleep apnea.

The Board granted an effective date of October 18, 2021 for the award of service connection for bruxism with jaw pain, later diagnosed as TMD, and granted an effective date of October 31, 2019 for a 10 percent evaluation for GERD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various left lower extremity disabilities and a TDIU, as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to correct duty to assist errors, including obtaining outstanding VA and private medical records, verifying a claimed in-service stressor, and scheduling VA examinations.

The appeal for earlier effective dates and increased ratings was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of both knees, bronchitis, plantar fasciitis of both feet, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD. The low back condition was remanded for further action.