Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a back condition and remanded claims for migraines and a neck condition. The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The reduction of the rating for lumbosacral strain from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective January 24, 2024, was proper; a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran is eligible for payment of attorney fees from benefits resulting from the December 2023 grant of past-due benefits.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 40 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy prior to February 9, 2024, and denied higher ratings for the other issues on appeal.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck disability and back disability to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted restoration of a 70 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and a 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), while denying the other claims.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathies but dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for the cervical spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including non-allergic rhinitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, and remanded several other claims for further development.

The Board denied increased ratings for major depressive disorder, left and right wrist ganglion cysts, lumbosacral strain, and hemorrhoids. However, service connection was granted for common headaches.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability as the evidence did not support a finding that the condition was related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between the current disability and any in-service injury or event.

The Board granted service connection for left knee strain and lumbosacral strain, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted an effective date of November 4, 2022, for the award of service connection for persistent depressive disorder and April 11, 2023, for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, but denied earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral lower extremity pain and weakness as secondary to a low back disability due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, except for an initial 10% rating for neuropathy of the peroneal nerve in the right lower extremity.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for right hip strain and lumbosacral strain. The claims for COPD, sleep apnea, and back pain were remanded.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his low back disability due to inconsistencies in medical evidence and a need for a supplemental VA opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis.

The appeal for service connection of multiple conditions has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's left knee condition, low back condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), substance abuse disorder, and a compensable initial rating for resection of pituitary microadenoma.