Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain based on the evidence showing that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence demonstrated its onset during active service and has been chronic since then. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and a right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to overuse injuries sustained during active duty.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar strain with chronic spine pain and chronic mid lower back pain, as well as readjudicated the claim of entitlement to service connection for thoracolumbar pain based on new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disability and a low back disability as there is no evidence of current disabilities or functional impairments.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and initial disability ratings for a low back disability, GERD, tension headaches, and acne due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a back condition, and bilateral leg conditions to ensure that VA's duty to assist is fully satisfied.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left index finger, left thumb, left knee, right knee, lower back, left-hand, and right-hand conditions, due to a lack of medical evidence and the need for VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for right hip strain and dismissed the appeal for a lower back disability.

The Board remands the claims for a cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy to provide the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and earlier effective dates for service connection, as well as service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease as there was no evidence of an in-service event, disease, or injury related to the Veteran's condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his unspecified depressive/generalized anxiety disorder and lumbar disc disease L5-S1, with L5 nerve root impingement and IVDS.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grants of a 40 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain and a 50 percent disability rating for right elbow epicondylitis, limitation of flexion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back, bilateral hand, and bilateral knee conditions due to an error in the February 2024 decision on appeal.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for migraine headaches and earlier effective dates for various service-connected conditions, as well as the claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability, a back condition, tinnitus, and sleep disturbances secondary to PTSD.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a 40 percent rating for chronic lumbosacral strain with arthritis and a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy from July 22, 2020 to May 3, 2021 for further development.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, as well as a TDIU claim, due to additional evidence received after the last SOC and the need for an updated examination.

The Board denied service connection for right leg below-the-knee amputation, left knee disability, and higher ratings for lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome. The claim for service connection for migraines was remanded.