Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The veteran withdrew all remaining issues on appeal, including those related to his service-connected low back disability and sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint/disc disease of the lumbar spine since October 13, 2017, was dismissed. Other claims were remanded.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a higher disability rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to an incomplete record regarding Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative disc disease (DDD), and also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 14, 2016.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed all issues.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back condition and GERD for an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for DJD of the lumbar spine from February 25, 2016 to September 15, 2023 and denied a rating in excess of 40 percent from September 16, 2023.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, depression, and a left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone is found to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the statutory housebound criteria.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for low back disability from December 22, 2018, and a 40 percent rating for the same condition from October 15, 2018. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent was denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues, including a compensable rating for hearing loss, right ear, service connection for left ear hearing loss, a low back disorder and a skin rash, and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based solely on his service-connected back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to May 13, 2014.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left arm nerve, and sleep apnea disabilities due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as an initial 40 percent rating for recurrent lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine from July 9, 2004. The claim for service connection for sexual dysfunction was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, a mid/lower back disability, a right knee disability, a neck disability, a left shoulder disability, a left hip disability, a right hip disability, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review this issue.

The appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was dismissed as the claim had been fully granted by the VA Regional Office.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or event related to his back pain and that his condition began after he left military service.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and multiple musculoskeletal disorders.