Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for vertigo as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and dismissed the appeal for sleep apnea. The claims for a cervical spine disability and bilateral radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left wrist scar and a compensable rating, but remanded claims for increased rating for left wrist tendon repair and service connection for low back strain.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no evidence to support a current diagnosis or a link to active service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, a migraine headache disorder, and bilateral tinea pedis as they were not proper appeals under the Appeals Management Act appellate system.

The appeal for an increased rating for a low back condition was denied, while the claims for service connection for bilateral knee, cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral wrist conditions were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis with stenosis/spondylolisthesis, finding it to be at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection and denied increased ratings, as there was no evidence supporting a diagnosis of TBI, adiposity-based chronic disease, or carpal tunnel syndrome related to service. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed due to a previous grant of service connection.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left shoulder and lower back condition due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for a back disability, hearing loss, poor vision, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to an impermissible concurrent election.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis, IVDS, and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine and assigned a 10 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but denied higher ratings and separate ratings for other knee and thumb disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for back disability manifested by pain, left shoulder tendinitis, right knee disability manifested by pain, left knee disability manifested by pain, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability as further development is needed.

The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches, while denying other claims.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease to correct a duty to assist error, as no adequate VA medical opinion has been obtained.

The Board granted service connection for left knee pain and a back disorder, but denied service connection for a kidney disorder.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a heart disability, kidney tumor, melanoma, back disability, and bilateral hearing loss to correct duty-to-assist errors.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings as they were based on a concurrent appeal election that is prohibited by current regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the need for regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back, bilateral shoulders, and bilateral knees, rendered him unemployable as of November 19, 2018.