Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for acne, bilateral pes planus, unsatisfactory restoration of tooth and malocclusion, unspecified, a reproductive disability resulting from antenna radiation exposure leading to a child born with a birth defect, eczema, hemorrhoids, athlete's foot, an acquired psychiatric condition, arthritis, gastrointestinal problems, low back strain, sleep apnea as secondary to a low back condition, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the claims for further development and readjudication, including considering new evidence associated with the file since the April 2016 rating decision.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back condition and right big toe condition due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including PTSD with a rating of 70%, and remanded others.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and her active service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for headaches, a lumbar strain, PTSD, and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to a violation of claims-processing rules.

The Board denied an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and remanded issues related to cervical spine degenerative arthritis and left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The appeal for a higher disability rating was denied, but TDIU based on the single service-connected disability of depression; adjustment disorder; with alcohol induced mood disorder; neurosis; and unspecified anxiety disorder was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent was not warranted.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral upper and lower extremity neurological disorders due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for the left leg disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities for further development, including a more contemporaneous examination.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back condition and hypertensive vascular disease as further development is needed.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disability to obtain an updated medical opinion, as the previous one was based on incomplete service treatment records.

The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for a back disability was denied, as the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of June 18, 1992 for the lumbar spine condition and January 7, 1999 for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral and sciatic nerves).

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's untimely submission of a Notice of Disagreement (VA Form 10182) for issues related to service connection for a low back disability and left knee disability, as well as a non-compensable rating for residuals of fracture to nose.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, finding that it was secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for right and left hip arthritis with tendonitis, but remanded the claims for sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, bladder disability, upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, knee disabilities, eye disability, ankle disability, GERD, GI disability, and psychiatric disability.