Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for loss of teeth, traumatic brain injury (TBI), headaches status post head injury, and lumbosacral strain, as well as earlier effective dates for the granted ratings.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. Other claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher or compensable ratings for the claimed conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 for various disabilities, including neck disability, tendonitis, right shoulder disability, and neurological disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, to afford the appellant appropriate examinations and obtain medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease with foraminal narrowing due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for back and right hip disabilities, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, lumbar strain, and left shoulder strain based on a current disability related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis, status post fusion surgery and a compensable rating for a lumbar spine surgical scar to provide the Veteran an opportunity for VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for high cholesterol, right knee disability, and toenail fungus condition. The claims for a bilateral eye condition, low back disability, left and right lower extremity disabilities, leg muscle spasms, sleep disorder, heart condition, gout, GERD are remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain and left and right shoulder strains, but denied service connection for migraines.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with compression fracture L4 and granted earlier effective dates for the service connection of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings due to the Veteran's withdrawal of certain claims, and denied service connection for sciatica of the left lower extremity.

The appeal for service connection for a urinary frequency condition was dismissed as the claim had been granted in a March 2024 rating decision.

The veteran withdrew all appeals for service connection related to various conditions, including knees, feet, eyes, and back.

The appeal was dismissed by the Veteran's representative on January 22, 2025.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection for a recurrent lumbar spine disability and a recurrent left hip disability due to missing service records.

The Board granted service connection for extensive degeneration in the lumbar spine, finding a causal relationship between the Veteran's current diagnosis and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he was not rendered unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension and remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, right ankle sprain with residual intermittent pain, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), erectile dysfunction (ED), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), plantar fasciitis, and left leg nerve disorder.