Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the matters for the AOJ to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a pre-decisional hearing before the AOJ.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and a neck disability due to an incomplete record, specifically the February 2024 VA examiner's medical opinion regarding the Veteran's neck condition.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition, as an adequate medical examination has not been provided.

The Board granted the restoration of a 40% disability rating for lumbar spine disability, readjudicated claims for service connection for left hand pain and nerve pain in both legs, but denied service connection for left hand pain.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to an untimely notice of disagreement. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for various disabilities were denied or remanded.

The Board granted an initial increased rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's scar, lumbosacral spine and remanded other issues due to a need for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for ED, multiple joint rheumatoid arthritis, neck disability with cervical radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis, and back disability with bilateral lumbar radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis to obtain additional medical opinions that comply with previous remand directives.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, right shoulder disorder, and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and a heart disorder for additional development to obtain new VA medical opinions.

The Veteran was granted an initial 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability from August 8, 2011 to June 10, 2021, but the increased rating request beyond that date was denied.

The Board remands the claim for a back condition to schedule an appropriate VA examination to determine its nature and etiology, as no medical opinion has been provided.

The Board granted restoration of the 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected back disability, effective from January 19, 2023.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and a back disability to address deficiencies in the evidence regarding the Veteran's lay statements and TERA exposures.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding no medical evidence linking the condition to the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the claim for a VA cervical spine examination to determine the relationship between the diagnosed degenerative disc disease and active service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for a back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and left wrist disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a current disability related to service. The claim for a somatoform disorder was remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of the bilateral lower extremities, as there was no evidence that a service-connected disability caused or contributed to the Veteran's double amputation.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities but granted an earlier effective date of October 23, 2015, for eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board granted a separate disability rating of 30 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis (limitation of extension) from April 7, 2021, to January 23, 2023, and a separate disability rating of 20 percent for moderate subluxation and instability from April 7, 2021, to January 9, 2023. The claim for an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion) was denied.