Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's low back disability had its onset in service.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for radiculopathy in all lower extremities and denied an increased rating for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right ankle conditions, lumbosacral strain with muscle spasms, and a right-frontal cortical brain-infarction (claimed as traumatic brain-injury) to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that it clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The appeal for evaluation of IVDS and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was dismissed, while TDIU was granted due to the combined effects of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities at least as likely as not result in his needing the regular aid and attendance of another person, thus granting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.

The appeal for increased ratings for cervical degenerative disc disease (claimed as chronic neck pain), right upper radiculopathy, right shoulder bursitis, and lumbar degenerative disc disease (claimed as chronic back pain) was withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability prior to April 1, 2021, was denied. However, his entitlement to special monthly compensation based on housebound status from April 1, 2021, was granted in part.

The appeal for a higher rating under the Appeals Modernization Act was dismissed as it did not constitute an initial decision to which the AMA applies.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, left shoulder disability, and lower back disability to allow for further development of the record.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, remanded the back condition and GERD claims for further development, and found insufficient evidence to establish a current disability of hearing loss.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain and related radiculopathy, as well as a higher rating for right ankle sprain, to obtain additional evidence and examinations that account for the Veteran's flare-ups and medication use.

The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the service-connected tension headaches prior to January 12, 2024, and denied an increased rating in excess of 50 percent from that date. The Board also granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the left knee degenerative joint disease status post total knee replacement prior to March 7, 2022.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of low back disability to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion that adequately addresses the Veteran's testimony regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, granting a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability to obtain information regarding the qualifications of the examiner who provided the VA back conditions examination report and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU) prior to June 14, 2021, as the evidence did not support a finding that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to August 17, 1998, as another remand is necessary to obtain an adequate advisory opinion regarding his employability.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a lumbar spine disability, aneurysm and residuals secondary to hypertension, and remanded the claim for a psychiatric disorder.