Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions of the ankles, hips, knees, and lumbar spine to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and residuals of hysterectomy to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, granted a separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity effective December 18, 2020, and granted an initial 10 percent rating prior to July 15, 2020, but denied a compensable rating from July 15, 2020, for helicobacter pylori.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral knee strain and lumbar strain, finding that the evidence was at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding the current 10 percent rating appropriate given the Veteran's range of motion and functional limitations.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a 50 percent rating for TMJD, effective May 23, 2021. The claim for FSAD was denied, while service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was granted.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a skin disability, lumbar spine disability, and osteoarthritis of the right wrist to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to a lack of proper notification and scheduling of VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back, right wrist, left and right foot conditions, and tinnitus to afford the Veteran examinations and obtain etiology opinions.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for microcytic anemia, hypertension, and a lumbosacral strain due to errors in the AOJ's duty to assist.

The Board remands the increased rating claims for low back disability, left elbow flexion disability, and left elbow supination and pronation disability to allow for further development of evidence under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal, and the Board dismissed the case.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and TDIU, while dismissing the appeal for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back disability, neck disability, and psychiatric disability due to missing service medical records and a need for additional evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for higher-level review of the denials of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertensive vascular disease, and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 20, 2020, for the grant of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), but denied a higher rating than 40 percent for the lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain, right knee bursitis, and intervertebral disc syndrome due to insufficient evidence of additional limitation in motion or instability that would warrant higher ratings.

The Board granted service connection for low back pain and pes planus, bilateral, but remanded the claim for sleep apnea.

The Board denied an increased rating for tinnitus and granted higher ratings for the low back disability, right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.