Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating for his service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and remanded the remaining issues to obtain additional evidence, including medical records and opinions.

The Board granted service connection for back disability, to include back sprain, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, left and right shin splints, back, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities related to service.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of lumbosacral strain, left knee instability with osteoarthritis, left knee limitation of flexion, left knee limitation of extension, and right shoulder bursitis, osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tendonitis, and repair as the VA examinations are found to be inadequate.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability but granted separate ratings of 10 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disability for readjudication due to new and relevant evidence.

The appeal for service connection regarding the thoracic or lumbar spine condition has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied it for sinusitis. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU for the appellate period prior to November 8, 2022 were granted.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, namely lumbar spondylosis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and intervertebral disc syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected retropatellar syndrome, arthritis and meniscal strain, right knee.

The Board remands the claims for higher initial evaluations of service-connected lumbar, right shoulder, headaches, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), right knee, and right hip conditions due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and urinary incontinence, all as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, finding that the evidence did not support a conclusion that any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The claim for service connection for right sacroiliac disability is remanded for readjudication due to new and relevant evidence. Other claims are also remanded for additional development.

The Board granted service connection for multiple musculoskeletal disabilities, including left hip osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee joint osteoarthritis, right big toe osteoarthritis, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with cervical stenosis, and thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbosacral spine spondylosis, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back condition, to include intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current lower back condition was incurred during active service and has continued since that time.

The Board remands the claims for a cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability as they require further development.

The Board denied service connection for an esophageal disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, left arm carpal tunnel syndrome, and right arm carpal tunnel syndrome as there was no evidence of current disabilities related to these conditions during the pendency of the claim. The claim for migraines was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine pain and right lower extremity disability, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to in-service injuries.