Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The appeal for service connection for a back injury, claimed as a lumbosacral or cervical strain, is dismissed based on res judicata.

The Board granted service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis, pes planus, and degenerative arthritis; right foot plantar fasciitis, pes planus, and degenerative arthritis; a lumbosacral strain; left ankle strain; and right ankle strain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lower back disability and left hip disability as the January 2024 medical opinions are found to be inadequate.

The Board denied increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, plantar fasciitis with degenerative joint disease in both feet, and hypertension.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and degenerative disc disease, lumbar based on the evidence supporting a direct link to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, sleep apnea, hearing loss, and low back disability, among others. The Veteran's tinnitus was rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, and vitamin B12 deficiency to correct pre-decisional duty to assist or notify errors.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for left ocular hypertension and remanded the claims for service connection for a lower back condition and a right shoulder condition.

The appeal regarding the proposed reduction in the 70 percent disability rating for MDD was dismissed as it was premature. The claim for a higher rating for DDD of the lumbosacral spine with IVDS was denied.

The Board denied a disability rating higher than 30 percent for the service-connected cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including erectile dysfunction and spine conditions, to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the April 2023 rating decision on appeal.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck disorder and back disorder to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the service connection claims for residuals from a facial injury, lumbar spine disorder, left upper extremity disorder, right upper extremity disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a disability manifested by fatigue, due to an undiagnosed illness, and remanded the claims for service connection for a back condition and fibromyalgia.

The Board granted an effective date of April 19, 2017 for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD and an effective date of January 5, 2022 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing grant as he does not have a permanent and total disability due to disorders that involve both lower extremities affecting balance or propulsion, which precludes locomotion without assistive devices.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right ankle condition and irritable bowel syndrome, but granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.

The Board denied the claims for an earlier effective date and service connection due to a lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's conditions during the appeal period.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's low back, left hip, and sciatic and femoral nerve radiculopathies disabilities, as well as earlier effective dates for service connection. However, a TDIU was granted from August 2, 2022.