Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for service connection for cervical strain with degenerative disc disease other than IVDS to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements and VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder as the evidence did not support that the Veteran's current condition began during active service or was otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, to include as secondary to a left ankle disability, due to missing service treatment records and the need for VA examinations.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, left shoulder strain, lumbar strain, status postoperative left knee partial meniscectomy/anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, right long finger sprain, and tinnitus. However, a 10 percent rating was granted for left knee instability, and the denial of an increased initial rating for left foot plantar fasciitis was upheld.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and right shoulder disorder due to missing service records, requiring additional VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate and tongue, left knee disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability due to an inadequate statement of reasons or bases in the previous decision.

The appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, head injury, hypertension, lateral meniscus injury of the left knee, low back disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and right knee condition was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's back disability, but denied higher ratings for both knee disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle sprain, right knee patellar tendinosis, degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine with thoracolumbar spine strain, gastroesophageal reflux disease with eosinophilic esophagitis (GERD), and major depressive disorder.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disability to obtain an additional medical opinion that adequately addresses the Veteran's in-service and post-service reports of low back symptoms.

The Veteran's back disability was granted a 40 percent rating, and separate noncompensable ratings were granted for right knee limitation of flexion and extension. A TDIU was also granted effective January 10, 2005.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches and bilateral pes planus, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), left shoulder strain, left elbow strain, low back disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, right knee strain, and left knee strain.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to pre-decisional errors by the AOJ in violation of the duty to assist.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and granted an initial 20 percent rating for right lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, while remanding several other issues.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, back pain, dizziness, headaches, and hypertension, as well as a higher rating for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine and paralysis of the sciatic nerves and hips.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine disability, an initial rating for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and an initial compensable rating for left leg shin splints to afford the Veteran new examinations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including hernia, bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability, low back disability, bilateral lower extremity disability, and bilateral eye disability, due to a failure to notify the Veteran of the inability to obtain his private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating more than 10 percent for lumbar spine spondylolisthesis based on the evidence of record.