Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder due to a lack of compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated 70 percent disabling since December 16, 2018, and the Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this condition alone effective from that date.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for his lumbar strain, to include degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome, and spondylosis, due to the need for a new VA back examination.

The Board denied higher staged ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, but granted an effective date of January 11, 2017, for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board granted service connection for a left arm disability but dismissed the appeal for a back disability as it was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and a right Achilles tendon disability, while dismissing the appeal for a right ankle disability. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for further development as there has not been substantial compliance with a previous remand, and additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for lumbar spine strain with IVDS from May 13, 2011, to April 19, 2012, and denied a higher rating. The Board also granted a 30 percent disability rating for cervical spondylosis with IVDS from December 13, 2019, to December 23, 2024, but denied a higher rating.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and a lower back disability due to improper concurrent elections of review options. The claims for gallbladder disorder, gastral hernia, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of the conditions.

The Board granted an effective date of January 1, 1995 for the awards of service connection for asthma, lumbosacral strain with lumbar spondylosis, left Achilles tendinitis, tension headaches, and left hip strain.

The appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease based on clear and unmistakable error in a previous decision was dismissed as there are no issues of law or fact to resolve.

The Board granted service connection for hemorrhoids, but remanded the claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right hip osteoarthritis, and right knee strain due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability as the evidence did not support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The appeal was dismissed as the May 2023 rating decision was for backfill purposes only and did not constitute an adjudicative decision subject to appellate review.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and OSA, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis and left lower extremity radiculopathy to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension and remanded the claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left shoulder impingement syndrome with bursitis, right shoulder impingement syndrome with bursitis, lumbosacral strain, and neck strain to allow for additional development of evidence.