Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the claim for idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH) to include skin conditions.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and denied initial ratings higher than 20 percent for a left shoulder strain and higher than 10 percent for a low back disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a neurocognitive disorder (claimed as dementia) and denied service connection for a low back condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and a left leg disability, to include anterior compartment syndrome, for new VA examinations due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for ulcerative colitis and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, right thumb disorder, pes planus, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis during or approximate to the appeal period. The claims for a headache disorder and plantar warts were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral carotid artery stenosis, cervical disc disease, thoracolumbar disc disease, Lewy body dementia with depression, sleep apnea, and others.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for brachial plexus neuropathy, degenerative disc disease, and right shoulder condition due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and multiple claims for service connection were remanded due to missing or unavailable service treatment records.

The Board remands all claims for further development and to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 40 percent for left eye disability, granted service connection for sinusitis based on exposure to fine particulate matter, and denied service connection for penile condition, allergies, Athlete's foot (tinea pedis and tinea unguium), and low back disability.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis based on the evidence showing that these conditions are related to in-service injuries.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, other than PTSD, and remanded the claims for a cervical spine condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, lumbar spine condition, left lower extremity sciatica nerve pain, and right lower extremity sciatica nerve pain.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a spine disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or event related to his current condition.

The appeals for compensable rating for headache disability, increased rating for right knee disability, and increased rating for lumbar spine disability were dismissed due to non-conformity with claims processing rules.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, earlier effective date for TDIU, and earlier effective date for eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 to ensure compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from February 1, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine fusion L5-S1, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current disability and his active military service.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder tendonitis, lumbosacral strain, right ankle strain, and right knee strain based on evidence showing these conditions were incurred in-service.