Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issues of increased disability ratings for the back and lower extremity neurological disabilities due to the need for additional development, including a new VA peripheral nerves examination.

The Board remands the case for a new examination to address the adequacy of a previous opinion regarding service connection for a low back disability secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck condition, degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis of the thoracolumbar spine, and osteoarthritis of the right hip due to unmet development requirements.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and bowel impairment associated with the lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for flat feet, finding that the Veteran's preexisting pes planus was not aggravated beyond its natural progression during service. The other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied a rating more than 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar condition from September 21, 2009 to November 19, 2010.

The Board denied a rating greater than 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease prior to January 5, 2018.

The Board granted service connection for chronic lumbar strain, finding that the condition was aggravated beyond its normal progression during active service.

The veteran has withdrawn the appeal, and there are no specific errors of fact or law for appellate consideration.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, service connection for bilateral hip conditions, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle condition and remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus, low back condition manifested by pain, and left hip condition to include bursitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left knee disability and lumbar spine disability due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the decision on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and lumbosacral strain based on evidence that these conditions had their onset during the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for several conditions but granted initial 20% evaluations for left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, femoral nerve, from October 31, 2019, to October 5, 2022, and granted a TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for chronic kidney disease, which is related to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, higher ratings, and service connection due to a lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's effective date for the award of service connection for a low back disability was granted as August 12, 2020. A rating in excess of 40 percent for the period on appeal from December 23, 2020, was denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, as the evidence did not support forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine that was 30 degrees or less or ankylosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for low back, left ankle, and bilateral knee disabilities.