Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder, anxiety, depression, and major depressive disorder (MDD), as the Veteran's psychiatric impairment began during active service.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition and a right shoulder condition, but dismissed the appeals for entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder condition and a right knee condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (sleep apnea) was remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraines, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, ankle disability, back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, scars on the head, neck, or face, and tinnitus, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date, but granted TDIU as of July 3, 2019.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for multiple disabilities, including back, left ankle, left hip, left knee, neck, right ankle, right hip, and right knee disabilities.

The Board granted an evaluation of 20 percent for the Veteran's musculoskeletal strain, thoracolumbar spine with scoliosis, effective July 28, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and a left shoulder disability, as these conditions are directly related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted increased ratings for irritable bowel syndrome, back condition, and asthma, restoring or assigning higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Board granted readjudication of service connection for a back disability based on new and relevant evidence, while remanding the issue for further development.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbar degenerative disease, and left hip strain conditions, but granted a 10 percent rating for left hip strain impairment of thigh from April 13, 2023.

The appeal as to the proposal to reduce the disability rating for lumbosacral strain, from 40 percent to 20 percent is dismissed. The matters of service connection for migraine headaches and neck strain are remanded.

The appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, a right shoulder disability, a low back disability, erectile dysfunction, inguinal hernia, and sleep disturbances is dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for back disability and migraine headaches, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating for various musculoskeletal conditions, as well as remanded two service connection claims.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of a 20 percent rating for service-connected back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as remanded the claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 1, 2023.

The Board remands the claim to address a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error regarding the effective date of service connection.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding a causal relationship between the Veteran's current disability and an in-service injury.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for left and right pubic symphysis degenerative arthritis, but denied a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claims for service connection for knee disorders were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder due to a predecisional duty to assist error in satisfying a regulatory or statutory duty.