Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, service connection, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, except for granting a total disability rating from October 16, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and a cervical spine disorder, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a back condition due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's claimed condition and outstanding private treatment records.

The Board remands the claims for a cervical spine disability and low back disability, to include degenerative disc disease, as pre-decisional duty to assist errors occurred by not obtaining appropriate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dismissed the claims for migraines and a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a lumbar spine disability. The issues related to tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were remanded.

The Board granted an increased initial rating of 20 percent for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative arthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The claim for service connection for the purpose of establishing eligibility for treatment for adjustment disorder with depressed mood was dismissed as there remains no controversy on appeal. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted an effective date of June 22, 2021 for the grant of service connection for PTSD to include persistent depressive disorder, with anxious distress, mild; and denied earlier effective dates for other claims.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and a TDIU from December 4, 2021 to February 7, 2024 due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disorders as the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service. The claim for a right hand disorder was remanded due to an alleged pre-decisional error regarding the need for a VA examination.

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's back disability but denied it for his right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for a back disability and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, but granted a 20 percent rating from October 11, 2023, for the back disability.

The Board remands the claims for further development of evidence, specifically to obtain private radiology and chiropractic records.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and denied increased ratings for left knee, left ankle, and left foot strains.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding it presumptively related to the Veteran's active duty. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted increased 40 percent ratings for a service-connected back condition, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve from July 12, 2022, but denied an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for a service-connected neck condition.

The Board granted service connection for a back disorder, finding that the evidence is in at least approximate balance regarding whether the condition is related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, including arthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease with lumbosacral strain and lateral collateral ligament sprain of the left ankle to ensure a more accurate assessment of the severity of these disabilities.