Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted initial ratings of 70 percent for a psychiatric disability, 40 percent for a low back disability, and 20 percent each for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve. The claim for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome was denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for a psychiatric disability, back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee limitation of extension, instability, and painful limitation of flexion were granted a rating. Service connection was also granted for cervical spine, left knee, right ankle, left shoulder, right shoulder, and right wrist disabilities as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle bursitis, left ankle bursitis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, a 30 percent rating for the right knee condition, and an initial 10 percent rating for sinusitis.

The Veteran was granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, DJD, from December 17, 1997 to June 3, 2022, and the effective date for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was also set at December 17, 1997. However, a higher rating or TDIU was denied.

The Board remands the claim for a back disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as the previous medical opinion was based on an inaccurate factual premise.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease throughout the period on appeal.

The Board granted the petitions to readjudicate claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability, while denying service connection for lower back, kidney, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea.

The Board denied higher ratings for left shoulder arthralgia and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with DDD, granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbar spine disability, and remanded claims for increased ratings of other musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a back disability to schedule an examination and obtain a medical opinion on its etiology.

The appeal of the May 6, 2025, rating decision that proposed to sever service connection for a left lateral collateral ligament sprain is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to her service-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and GERD disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, groin muscle injury, to include scrotum disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to duty-to-assist errors in prior VA examinations.

The veteran withdrew all claims on appeal, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board granted an effective date of December 3, 2022, for the awards of service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, and lower back condition.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and service connection, including cervical spine strain with IVDS, upper extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, and shin splints.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, bronchitis, liver abscess, abdominal aorta, left and right hamstring disabilities. The Board granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy but denied all other claims.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as there was no evidence to support a nexus between the claimed conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for tinnitus, and service connection for various conditions, including knees and hips.