Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability, service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbar spine disability, but denied a compensable rating for hypertension. The issues of service connection for foot and knee disabilities were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and a psychiatric disability, both considered chronic within one year of separation. The claims for PTSD and eligibility for treatment for psychosis were deemed moot or dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral flatfoot condition but denied an initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis and remanded claims for service connection for right, left hip, and back disabilities.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and major depressive disorder, moderate (depression and anxiety), granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent for GERD, and denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain/thoracic spondylosis and thoracic mild scoliosis.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, OSA, atrial fibrillation, and tinnitus. The Board also denied increased ratings for lumbar strain with lumbar spondylosis, left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy, and hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disability to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and bilateral chondromalacia of the knee.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and remanded the claims for service connection for a back, right ankle, and right shoulder disorder.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and denied an increased rating for lumbar strain with IVDS, while remanding several other claims.

The appeal seeking service connection for low back disability was withdrawn by the Veteran, and thus it has been dismissed.

The Board granted a 70 percent evaluation for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and remanded claims for service connection of back condition, as secondary to orthopedic conditions, and compensable evaluation for right foot hammertoes.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and stenosis, multilevel disc bulge and anterolisthesis based on the evidence supporting a nexus to active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that it was not related to his active service or caused by his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The claims for service connection for a low back disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral flat feet, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability and denied service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, vertigo, back disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain with IVDS and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity and functional impairment.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder, for further development including VA examinations.