Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for a back condition, including degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than IVDS, lumbosacral strain, and IVDS, secondary to service-connected right ankle disability, due to an inadequate VA medical nexus opinion.

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability, and service connection for right hip arthritis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy/sciatica as secondary to the lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or a TDIU.

The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for coronary artery disease, back disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, as well as earlier effective dates for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for headaches, which are found to be proximately due to the Veteran's already service-connected trigeminal neuralgia.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and a psychiatric disability, as additional evidence needs to be considered.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for migraines and dismissed the appeal regarding left hand scar, left pectoral bullet scars, and low back pain with radiating pain to right knee. The claim for service connection for bruxism was remanded.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder and denied a separate compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, while remanding claims for service connection for right foot, lumbar spine, cervical spine disabilities, and entitlement to TDIU.

The appeals to reverse, based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE), the December 2021 and October 2023 rating decisions that denied service connection for various disabilities were dismissed.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for multiple conditions, and the Board has no further jurisdiction to consider these matters.

The Board granted service connection for a low back functional disability and denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection for a lumbar spine disability prior to December 18, 2006.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, right elbow disability, and left elbow disability due to pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for a compensable rating of cervical spine and lumbosacral spine disabilities, thus the appeals are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, right wrist, neck, left wrist, and low back conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability at the time of the claim or during its pendency.

The Board granted service connection for scoliosis of the lumbar spine, finding that it was aggravated during service beyond its natural progression.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for back disability, service connection for various disabilities, and readjudication of the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for asthma based on the PACT Act, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, sleep disturbances, depression, and anxiety. The claims for a headache disability, sleep apnea, back disability, and infertility were remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased initial ratings for various conditions, and the Board dismissed the appeal.