Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for low back condition and sleep apnea, requesting to submit additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, as secondary to a low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition due to his failure to report for a necessary medical examination without good cause.

The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain to afford the Veteran an additional examination where the ameliorative effects of his prescription and topical medications are not considered when evaluating the severity of the disability.

The Board granted a new and relevant evidence request to readjudicate the claim for service connection for a lumbar herniated disk, but remanded the issue for further development.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, spondylolysis, loss of vertebral body height, and retrolisthesis; right knee strain residuals and osteoarthritis; left knee strain residuals and meniscal tear residuals; and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity paresthesia, right lower extremity paresthesia, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and left elbow osteoarthritis. The claim for an acquired psychiatric condition was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a headache condition and remanded claims for other conditions including right hand, left hand, lower back, right ankle, right foot, left foot, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disability to obtain an addendum VA opinion or new examination.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for PTSD and residuals of a TBI, to include migraine headaches, but denied earlier effective dates for lumbosacral strain, cervical DDD, right upper extremity radiculopathy associated with cervical DDD, and left upper extremity radiculopathy associated with cervical DDD.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability at a level qualifying as a VA compensation disability. The claims for service connection for cervical spine, left shoulder, low back, left hip, right and left knee, and right and left ankle disabilities were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's surviving spouse was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected Parkinson's Disease.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, and depression to include alcohol abuse and memory loss. The back condition, left knee joint pain, and right knee joint pain were remanded for further examination.

The Board granted readjudication of the claim for a right foot disability and denied claims for service connection for headache disorder, erectile dysfunction, diabetes, gout, hypertension, heart disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, peripheral arterial disease, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and remanded several other claims.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, right foot disability (pes planus and plantar fasciitis), left foot disability (pes planus and plantar fasciitis), lumbar strain, right shoulder tendinopathy, left shoulder tendinopathy, right hand tendinopathy, and left hand tendinopathy on a direct basis.

The Board granted service connection for a facial scar as a residual of a head injury with facial lacerations and an initial 30 percent rating, but no higher, for Crohn's disease. The claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, compensable ratings for hemorrhoids and hypertension, increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU were denied.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, a deltoid sprain of the left foot, and lumbosacral strain but denied service connection for residuals of a fracture to the right index finger and left and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left hip strain, right hip strain, and lumbosacral strain based on the evidence of record.

The Board remands the case to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error related to an inadequate examination report for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for headaches and service connection for concussion, but remanded the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain.