Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for increased ratings of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right knee disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors in prior examinations.

The appeal for an increased rating for lumbar strain was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision was made, and thus is dismissed.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a left hand disability and denied service connection for rhinitis. The claims for service connection for right knee strain, left knee condition, back condition, neck condition, left hip condition, and right hip condition were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with thoracic strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve due to insufficient information in the VA examination reports.

The appeal for an increased rating for a low back disability was withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative, and therefore, the claim is dismissed.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability and remanded the matter of entitlement to TDIU from January 27, 2018, to prior to September 7, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, headache disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing was granted, while his TDIU claim prior to May 31, 2020, was denied. The low back disability rating issue is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence supporting a current disability, and remanded the issue of low back pain for further development.

The Board remands the claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a low back strain due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board remands the matters of entitlement to an initial disability rating for the service-connected lumbar spine and right knee disabilities as additional development is needed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back condition, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral foot condition for readjudication with consideration of any new evidence.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, lower back condition, and a respiratory condition to obtain additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck, back, bilateral knee, and left humerus bone tumor disabilities to ensure all pertinent records are in the claim file and to afford the Veteran an assessment of his current disability status.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, specifically to obtain a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) for the VA examiner who conducted the Veteran's December 17, 2020, VA back (thoracolumbar spine) conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ).

The appeal for service connection and increased ratings for back disability and bilateral pes planus is remanded due to incomplete or inadequate medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder for purposes of accrued benefits due to the lack of evidence showing that the Veteran's low back disorder was related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or an earlier effective date.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back, right hip, and left hip disabilities as secondary to service-connected knee or right foot disabilities due to inadequate medical evidence.