Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, and cervical strain, and increased the rating for lumbosacral strain to 40 percent. The claim for a higher rating for the right knee was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's back disability.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection for osteoporosis of the lumbar spine and both hips.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and denied higher ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including mental disability, headaches, radiculopathy, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left shoulder.

The Board denied the appeal to restore a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with lumbar spondylosis, as there was actual improvement in the disability.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbosacral strain, to include low back pain, a right hip disability, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression. The Board also remanded the claim for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include major depressive disorder. The claims for a left knee and back disability were remanded.

The Board denied a higher rating than 10 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and a compensable disability rating for hemorrhoids prior to April 17, 2023.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities and denied increased ratings for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right sciatic radiculopathy, and multiple right knee and hip conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the November 2019 rating decision on appeal.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability, effective from November 8, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a TBI, a right ankle condition, and a back condition due to the lack of evidence supporting current disabilities or in-service incurrences.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disorder to obtain a VA examination to determine its etiology, as no such opinion has been provided.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that it was permanently aggravated during the Veteran's active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in August 2021.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and granted an initial 40 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied, while the appeals for ratings in excess of 40 percent for a back condition and in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions due to untimely filing of a Notice of Disagreement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease/degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or a causal relationship between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including left elbow strain, right elbow strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, left hip strain, right hip strain, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, left upper extremity nerve disability secondary to cervical strain, obstructive sleep apnea, and a cardiac disability.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for left cubital tunnel syndrome and 30 percent for right cubital tunnel syndrome, but remanded the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain.