Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The appeal for service connection for a back condition was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal condition and denied an increased rating for lumbar discopathy with degenerative joint disease.

The Board granted service connection for GERD as secondary to the Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus, but denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right ear hearing loss, chronic sinus condition, bilateral hand condition, jaw condition, aortic regurgitation, discoid lupus, residuals of peptic ulcer, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity (LUE) radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence supports a link between the Veteran's current condition and his active military service.

The appeal for service connection for left, right knee, and right ankle disabilities was withdrawn by the Veteran, and these claims were dismissed. The appeal for a low back disability is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, as there is no current disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, GERD, and cervical degenerative disc disease are granted ratings of 50%, 70%, 30%, and a grant of service connection respectively.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and initial ratings of 30 percent for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, migraines, and hiatal hernia with slight reflux and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) effective September 5, 2018.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, and low back disabilities to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, lower back disability, and left shoulder disability based on evidence of in-service incurrence and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for service connection for post-surgical lumbar spine pain.

The veteran withdrew all appeals for increased ratings of various conditions, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbosacral strain, left hip disability, right hip disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxious distress, with intermittent major depressive episodes, as additional evidence needs to be considered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for revision of the May 1984 administrative decision and rating decision, which determined that injuries incurred in August 1982 were the result of willful misconduct, on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and her active duty service.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating, service connection for radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and TDIU due to incomplete evidence.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae and remanded the claims for service connection for a lower back strain and sleep apnea.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, restored the 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability, and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for multiple musculoskeletal disabilities, including the left and right shoulders, ankles, knees, elbow, and low back, as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or treatment related to these conditions.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as a new VA examination is necessary to assess the current severity of the condition.