Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the applications to revise a March 2021 rating decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for various claims of service connection, finding no evidence that the correct facts were not before the RO or that the applicable statutory and regulatory provisions were incorrectly applied.

The Board denied service connection for hiatal hernia, erectile dysfunction, and migraines but granted service connection for left hip disability (degenerative arthritis) and earlier effective dates for certain conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a left hip disability, right hip disability, low back disability, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a back condition to obtain an opinion on whether it is caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability and a left knee disorder, both related to the Veteran's military service. The claims for a low back disorder and a brain tumor were remanded for further development.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine pars interarticularis fracture (spondylolysis) with degenerative disc disease non-intervertebral disc syndrome, finding that the claim was withdrawn in 2020 and no continuous pursuit of the claim was shown.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The claims for service connection for neck/cervical strain, mid/low back pain, and bilateral knee pain were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left and right foot disabilities, but dismissed a back condition claim as not valid. The claims for knee conditions and varicose veins were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral, right knee, right hip, and right ankle conditions as they were not shown to be related to the Veteran's active duty or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and nasal fracture, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings.

The Board remands the matters for appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine and related radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition based on the Veteran's competent and credible statements as well as available treatment records.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating and TDIU due to incomplete VA examination reports.

The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to June 21, 2018.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The claim for colitis was remanded for further development.

The Board remands the matter for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back condition.

The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU) from April 3, 2020.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability and numbness of the bilateral lower extremities, as additional development is needed.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot disability, but remanded issues related to a lumbar spine and right knee disability.