Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for further development, including consideration of additional evidence and readjudication by the AOJ.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy, while granting a 40 percent rating from November 24, 2020 to August 1, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for a low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability to obtain new VA medical opinions that adequately address the Veteran's lay reports of onset, in-service treatment, and continued symptomatology.

The appeals for service connection and TDIU were dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine disorder from May 29, 2019, and denied special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, a right ear disorder other than hearing loss and tinnitus, an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, an initial compensable rating for asthma, and various other conditions due to insufficient evidence of current disability or no relationship to service.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that the proper effective date is February 13, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of both femoral and sciatic nerves, tension headaches, residual scarring, and PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted an effective date of April 18, 2023, for the 40 percent rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy but denied an earlier effective date for service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disability and denied claims for secondary service connection for major depressive disorder and a back condition.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee DJD, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, psoriasis, acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and various other injuries and conditions claimed by the Veteran.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a low back disorder, finding that no new and relevant evidence was received prior to May 4, 2023.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder due to a need for an additional medical opinion.

The Board granted an initial increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and remanded the claims for service connection for pain of the left shoulder, pain of the lumbar spine, and sciatic radicular pains.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition but denied service connection for hypertension, heart condition, and migraines. The claim for sleep apnea was remanded.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and a rating in excess of 20 percent for the lumbar spine back disability, as the evidence did not show symptoms productive of total occupational and social impairment or greater severity.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for the service connection of lumbosacral strain and related lower extremity radiculopathies, but remanded claims for higher initial ratings.