Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a back condition and a left knee condition, both of which are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee condition. The appeal for a heart condition was remanded due to insufficient evidence, and entitlement to TDIU was also remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a headache disorder and assigned a 30 percent rating for GERD, while denying higher ratings for the lumbosacral strain with vertebral fracture, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for chronic low back pain/degenerative disc in back and arthritis in spine, neck and upper back were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her claims.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and dismissed the appeal for a rating higher than 30 percent for chronic right eye iritis. Other claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for various disabilities and TDIU, as no relevant evidence was received to support an earlier date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the flu, frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs), and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The lumbosacral strain claim was remanded for further development.

The Board denied an increased rating for left foot metatarsal residuals and remanded the claims for service connection for various shoulder, wrist, lumbosacral strain, knee disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal for service connection for a lumbosacral strain is dismissed as moot because the claim was granted in a subsequent rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, mood disorder, and anxiety but granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities and pes planus. The Board also granted initial 20 percent disability ratings for the Veteran's sciatica nerve conditions in the right and left lower extremities.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection of multiple conditions, including bipolar disorder, PTSD, chronic depression, chronic anxiety, sleep disorder, degenerative disc disease, left knee meniscal tear, and substance abuse-alcohol.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his back disability prior to April 24, 2023, as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and denied a higher rating for tinnitus. The claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, irritable bowel syndrome, and sleep apnea due to the need for further evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure that the Veteran is afforded a VA examination.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for asthma and remanded the claim for a back condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending Board appeals and is satisfied with his 100 percent combined rating.

The Board remands the case for a new VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee and ankle conditions.

The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, as recent evidence suggests a worsening of service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for an autoimmune disease due to the lack of a current diagnosis, and remanded claims for left lower extremity sciatica and radiculopathy as well as degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine for further development.