Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding no evidence linking the current condition to any in-service event or injury.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right ankle pain, lumbar spine pain, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left knee pain, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied it for left ear hearing loss, with an effective date of June 14, 2023, for the award of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) associated with lumbosacral strain, as the evidence did not show symptoms productive of considerable impairment of health.

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent rating for lumbar strain, effective November 25, 2024, and denied an increased rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings and TDIU, but readjudicated a previously denied service connection claim for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for mid-thoracic strain (back disability), and the Board lacks jurisdiction to review this matter.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for initial ratings higher than the assigned percentages for service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal for service connection for arthritis due to trauma and a back condition as untimely, while remanding the claim for sleep apnea for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spinal stenosis, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between the condition and his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board granted effective dates of March 9, 2023, and June 7, 2023, for the award of a 40 percent disability rating for lumbar spine disability and a 10 percent disability rating for sinusitis, respectively.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and right sciatica nerve pain as new and relevant evidence has been submitted.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disorder, back disorder, and right hand disorder but denied an increased evaluation for the favorable ankylosis of the right third finger with post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

The Board denied increased ratings for the back disability and right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but granted a 40 percent rating from December 22, 2023, for the right lower extremity radiculopathy and a 10 percent rating from August 12, 2011, for the left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability due to deficiencies in VA's duty to assist, including failure to obtain relevant Army Reserve records and Community Care treatment records, and an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Board remands the service connection claims for various disabilities and TDIU due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for thoracolumbar strain with degenerative changes and remanded the claims for a higher rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy as well as TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the left wrist and a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability for further development and readjudication.