Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder was granted a 100 percent rating, while the low back condition and associated radiculopathy were denied increased ratings. SMC at the housebound rate was also granted.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of a creative organ, as these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent and TDIU due to inconsistencies in the VA examination reports.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition as there is no probative evidence of current disabilities related to her military service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's back disability, granted an effective date of September 30, 2016 for a 40 percent rating, and remanded claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability based on the evidence being at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had onset in service.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including a cervical spine disability, low back disability, and various limb and heart conditions, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or were related to the veteran's service.

The Board denied service connection for the lower back disability as there was no evidence of a chronic disease shown in service or subsequent manifestations of the same chronic disease, and no medical link between the current diagnosis of lumbar strain and military service.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to hypertension and remanded the claims for low back disability and right shoulder disability including arthritis.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's sciatic nerve impairments and remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back condition with IVDS.

The Board denied service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and right bicipital tendonitis as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back pain.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a lower back disability to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error by obtaining fully adequate medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for a lumbosacral strain was granted, effective December 28, 2017.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 9, 2018, for a grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy with a 20 percent disability rating. The Board also granted increased ratings of 70 percent and 20 percent from March 17, 2017 to June 2, 2021, and from March 17, 2017, respectively, for the service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder and anxious features, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for a low back disability and remanded the claim for a bilateral foot disability.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating greater than 20 percent or 40 percent, as appropriate, for service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, right and left lower extremity femoral and sciatic radiculopathy, and right and left upper extremity neuropathy/radiculopathy prior to specified dates. The claims are remanded so that retrospective medical opinions can be provided addressing the severity of each disability over the entire course of the period on appeal.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, secondary to her low back condition.

The Board remands the matters for further development, specifically to obtain treatment records from Walter Reed Medical Center.