Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a back disability as it was proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected kidney disease.

The Board remands the claims for additional development and readjudication.

The Board remands the matter to ensure substantial compliance with previous remand instructions, specifically requiring an examination and medical opinions from an orthopedist.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to missing records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spine, maxillary sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis due to a need for additional VA examinations.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and left knee disability, as well as remanded his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's current disability had its onset in service.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, but remanded the claims for a low back disability, sinusitis, and left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a mental health disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee tendinitis, but granted service connection for lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension, left and right shoulder disabilities, back disability, pain and/or fatigue disability (chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia), and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease with nephrolithiasis to obtain additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for the right ankle condition and denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left knee condition and a low back condition to obtain additional evidence and an adequate VA opinion.

The Board remands the claims for new VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as the March 2024 VA examinations were found to be inadequate.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, low back and right shoulder as the conditions were not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the claims for right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and a low back condition for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, finding that no evidence supported an earlier date of claim or entitlement.

The Board denied increased ratings for TMJ dysfunction with arthritis, cervical strain (neck disability), lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with arthritis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, tension headaches, and left thigh impairment. However, a 20 percent rating was granted for left lower radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back disability and related radiculopathies as they require further development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a neck disability as the evidence did not support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.