Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The appeal for service connection for emotional distress and the appeal of a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar back pain were dismissed due to untimely filings.

The appeal for service connection for a low back disability was dismissed due to the Veteran not filing a timely Notice of Disagreement in the Legacy system.

The Board remands the claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease prior to January 30, 2023, due to the need for an addendum opinion addressing the ameliorative effects of medications on the severity of the Veteran's back conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability but granted service connection for migraine headaches, which are aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spondylosis and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bronchial asthma, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current disability picture.

The Board remands the service connection claim for a back disability to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining relevant private medical records and providing an adequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent and 10 percent respectively.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, service connection for radiculopathy, and increased ratings, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 1, 2020.

The Board dismissed several appeals related to disability ratings and denied a higher rating for tension headaches, as well as an earlier effective date for DEA benefits.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a lumbar spine disability due to duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the December 2023 Board decision.

The Board granted service connection for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) and lumbosacral strain. The appeal was denied for facial scars, increased ratings for cervical spine DDD with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, left knee meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tear with chondrosis, limited flexion, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions due to his failure to attend scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and unspecified anxiety disorder as there was no evidence of current disabilities related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for neck strain, low back disorder, and migraines based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence that the condition began during active service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between the current disability and active service.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease, lower lumbar; service connection for sleep apnea; and service connection for ulcerative colitis. The issue of total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is also remanded.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine based on new evidence associated with the claims file in August 2015.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.