Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and an effective date earlier than May 8, 2014, for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine DDD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for a low back disability, PTSD, and epididymitis.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for a low back disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and entitlement to a TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no medical nexus between the current condition and service.

The appeal for service connection for low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and a low back condition.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disability manifesting in short term memory loss, to include PTSD.

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent disability rating for the low back and sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, denied increased ratings for these conditions, and granted an effective date of October 11, 2022, for the award of service connection for femoral radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Board also granted a TDIU and DEA benefits from March 16, 2015.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, neck disability, back disability, and left big toe disability to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or an earlier effective date.

The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's back disability, finding that the evidence did not support an increased rating even when considering flare-ups and functional limitations.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability evaluation for migraine headaches and denied increased ratings for other conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with compression fracture L3, spondylosis L4, lumbar strain, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), among others.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, right ankle, left ankle, and hearing loss conditions but granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board restored the 40% rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, denied earlier effective dates and higher ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and denied a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, foot, psychiatric disorder, and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and remanded several other claims, including lumbar spine disorder, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, bronchitis, pneumonia, and GERD. The appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, insomnia disorder, kidney stones, and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss were dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain and bilateral knee condition.

The Board remands the claims for a low back disability and left shoulder disability to correct duty to assist errors, including obtaining outstanding medical records and new VA opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a herniated disc and remanded the claim for a back disability other than IVDS and a herniated disc, finding that there was no current diagnosis of a herniated disc.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and lumbar strain due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.