Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including left ankle, right ankle, low back, left foot, right foot, left knee, and right knee conditions, as there was no evidence of a current disability or functional impairment of earning capacity.

The Board granted a higher level of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(t) for the Veteran's residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), effective March 2, 2022.

The Board remands the claims for a retrospective opinion to determine the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve prior to April 7, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, cervical spine condition, and peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for further development and correction of pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the evaluations of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, and tension headaches.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) before the Board promulgated a decision.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability to obtain additional evidence and a new VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, allergic rhinitis, a back disability (chronic lower back pain), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and a right knee disability (chronic right knee issues) as the evidence did not support a finding of a current diagnosis or a link to service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back condition, chronic sinusitis, hypertension, residuals of prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss (right and left ear), migraines, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim for service connection for a left ankle condition was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease other than IVDS and remanded the claims for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, a bilateral ankle disorder, and a bilateral finger disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disability, including as secondary to a prostate condition.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for further development, including scheduling examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, finding that new and relevant evidence had been submitted to readjudicate the previously denied claim.

The appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, namely lumbosacral spondylosis, was dismissed due to the Veteran's concurrent election of available Appeals Modernization Act review options.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected DDD other than IVDS and entitlement to TDIU, as the May 2023 VA examination was found inadequate.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus was granted, while all other claims for service connection were denied.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition, finding it related to the Veteran's active duty service.