Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids, while remanding claims for a low back disability, left knee disability, tension headaches, GERD, chronic constipation, and hypertension.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a gastrointestinal disability, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and dermatitis. The Board also granted a rating of 20 percent for the lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted ratings of 70 percent for major depressive disorder and 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, while denying higher ratings for sleep apnea with COPD and chronic headaches. TDIU was granted based on the service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes, gout, lower back disability, and sleep apnea. The initial ratings for hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for several musculoskeletal disabilities and remanded the claim for a lumbar spine disability for readjudication, while also remanding claims for other musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error, as adequate medical opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's conditions were not obtained.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and erectile dysfunction, and remanded claims for sleep apnea and a low back disability.

The veteran withdrew all appeals, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review them.

The Veteran was granted initial ratings of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and 20 percent each for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. An effective date of January 19, 2013, was also granted for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lower back condition and bilateral hearing loss to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including Covid-19, lung disability, hair loss, IBS, bilateral hearing loss, back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, eye disability, migraine disability, and tinnitus, as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left index finger tendonitis, lumbar spine scar, bilateral hydroceles, and prostatitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral shin splints and a back disability, to include as secondary to bilateral shin splints, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's IBS was granted, while other claims for service connection were denied or remanded.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and an earlier effective date, as well as a TDIU claim, due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for new examinations.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting back condition was aggravated by his service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as remanded certain issues for further development.

The Board granted higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected neck, right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, left hip (extension, flexion, abduction), right hip (extension, flexion, abduction), left knee (flexion), right knee (flexion), and left ankle (dorsiflexion, plantar flexion) disabilities, but denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with insomnia and denied increased ratings for other conditions, remanding several claims for further development.

The Board remands the claims for further development and readjudication by the AOJ.