Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, disability manifested by joint pain, claimed as polyarthritis, and low back disorder to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's back, left knee, and right knee disabilities as they did not originate in service or until years thereafter and are not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, higher ratings for the same condition, a rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus, and a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with spondylosis. However, it granted an earlier effective date of April 29, 2023, for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date of May 15, 2020, for a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) were granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified anxiety disorder with insomnia, anorexia, and bulimia, headaches, lumbosacral strain, right and left hip strain, and vertigo, have prevented her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for a low back disability and associated radiculopathies of the bilateral lower extremities, as the December 13, 2023 claim was deemed to be the date of claim.

The Board granted service connection for migraines, including migraine variants, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and granted a TDIU rating on an accrued basis.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that August 10, 2023, is the earliest available date based on the Veteran's claim.

The Board denied service connection for dizziness and giddiness, as well as increased disability ratings for alopecia, seborrheic dermatitis, cervical strain, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, dysphagia, left ovarian cyst with dysmenorrhea, and uterine fibroid. The Board also remanded an issue regarding service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a service-connected back disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic lymphoid leukemia and various musculoskeletal conditions due to insufficient evidence and errors in the initial decision.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's back disability and granted a 20 percent rating, but not higher, for radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity, and a 40 percent rating, but not higher, for radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), left lower extremity. Other claims were denied.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of a lumbosacral strain and right knee strain to the AOJ for further adjudication.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, a back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the back disability.

The Board granted the application for readjudication of a previously denied claim for service connection for a low back condition and remanded the matter to correct pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, entitling him to special monthly compensation.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative spine disease due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left elbow and lower extremity nerve conditions, as well as remanded several claims for further development.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an increased initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left-sided lumbar radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.