Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, to include degenerative arthritis, based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board remands the matters for additional development to ensure compliance with the Court's directives in the August 2024 Joint Motion.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of a low back disorder to obtain further evidence and an updated medical opinion.

The Board remands the matter for further development to address the severity of the Veteran's low back disability while discounting the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board remands the claim for an increased rating for the low back disability to obtain a supplemental medical opinion regarding the impact of medication on the severity of the condition.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, lower left extremity nerve disability (including radiculopathy), and left upper extremity nerve disability (including carpel tunnel syndrome) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between the condition and his active service or any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome, and herniated nucleus pulposus L5-S1 due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding private treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy was withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, left shoulder disability secondary to the low back disability, and right shoulder disability secondary to the low back disability.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to higher disability ratings for low back disability and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as well as a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to the low back disability.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a back disability (claimed as lumbar stenosis), incontinence, and a disability of the right lower extremity (claimed as right leg condition) because new and material evidence was not received since previous final denials.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for tinnitus were denied.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 30, 2021, for the grant of service connection for migraines and increased ratings for PTSD and right knee disability to 70%, 60%, and TDIU respectively.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of January 1, 2021, for the award of TDIU and SMC based on statutory housebound criteria.

The Board remands multiple issues, including service connection claims and rating increases for various disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease with limitation of flexion and extension, but granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The 10 percent rating for right knee instability was restored.

The Board remands the claim for a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is due to or aggravated by service-connected disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and spinal stenosis of the cervical spine to obtain new medical opinions addressing specific issues raised by the Veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and right shoulder disabilities due to his failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.