Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and continued. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and special monthly compensation claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and lumbosacral strain were denied due to his failure to attend scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Board denied service connection for hand rash, vision loss based on refractive error, and lumbar spine disability, among other conditions. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for right knee limitation of extension.

The Board remands the claims for a low back disability and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and related radiculopathies of the lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted a 40% rating for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy prior to October 15, 2019 and a 30% rating for right and left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy prior to the same date. The other claims were denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities and higher evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for increased rating for his service-connected low back and left shoulder disabilities, as the earliest possible assignable effective date was September 26, 2003.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that it was caused by the Veteran's service-connected lower extremity disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and associated left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy with an effective date of August 6, 2021. The initial ratings for the lumbar spine condition were denied, while the Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity external popliteal nerve radiculopathy and a 10 percent rating for left lower extremity posterior tibial nerve radiculopathy.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection for various disabilities, including the right knee strain, left hip, left knee, left shoulder, back, right shoulder, and right hip.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a relationship to service.

The appeal for service connection for a low back disorder was dismissed due to the untimely submission of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for lumbar spine strain and intervertebral disc syndrome to obtain outstanding private treatment records and an adequate addendum opinion.

The Board remands the claim for a lower back disability to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the diagnosed condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several other claims for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated beyond its natural progression during his period of active duty for training in 2016.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for sciatica, left hip condition, lumbosacral strain, and PTSD.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.