Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and remanded claims for flat feet, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a back disability.

The Board remands the claims for further development to determine if the Veteran is eligible for healthcare under Chapter 17 of 38 U.S.C. due to a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder.

The Veteran's back disability from January 23, 2019 to October 15, 2019 was granted a rating of 50 percent.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for Crohn's disease, bilateral pes planus, bilateral shin splints, right knee disability, and low back disability to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability and denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating for tinnitus. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied increased ratings for chronic lumbosacral strain, irritable bowel syndrome, PTSD with alcohol and cannabis use disorder, right knee degenerative joint disease, and right lower extremity scar. However, service connection was granted for asthma.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disability and hypertension as there is no evidence to support that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, and cervical strain to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for various disabilities and the character of discharge issue, as additional evidence and clarification are needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability due to a lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis and no credible lay or medical evidence linking any in-service event to the claimed condition.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and strain based on the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 23, 2018, for the award of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative changes with intervertebral disc syndrome and dextroscoliosis, as well as for lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, sciatic nerve.

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability and restored 20 percent ratings for sciatic nerve radiculopathies in both lower extremities, effective September 28, 2023. The decision also denied higher ratings for these conditions.

The appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and erectile dysfunction, as well as the appeals for entitlement to basic eligibility for VA loan guaranty benefits and an earlier effective date for eligibility to DEA, were dismissed due to a procedural defect in the filing of the appeal.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 11, 2018 for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral and thoracic strain.

The Board dismissed the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to untimely filings of a Notice of Disagreement, except for remanding certain claims for further development.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to deficiencies in the VA examinations and missing records.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension, degenerative disc disease (DDD), and a right shoulder injury to correct an error by the AOJ to satisfy its duty to assist the Veteran under 38 U.S.C. § 5103A.

The Veteran is granted eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing but denied eligibility for a special home adaptation grant.

The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent rating for radiculopathy involving the femoral nerve in both lower extremities and denied an increased rating for lumbar degenerative joint and disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome (back disability).