Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disability and hepatitis C due to a duty to assist error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left shoulder, right hip, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and a lumbar spine disability based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including TBI, migraine headache disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and others, as the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or nexus to service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple strains due to a lack of nexus opinions linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic multiple joint pain, hypertension, and low back disorder to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine for the period spanning June 26, 2018 through December 14, 2018.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for the thoracolumbar spine disability from November 15, 2021, to November 3, 2022, and a rating higher than 40 percent from November 4, 2022, onward.

The appeal for service connection for various disabilities was withdrawn, and an effective date of April 7, 2023, was granted for a 40 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition and remanded the claim for a back condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the claim for a back disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and a back disability for further development.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD as due to a claimed in-service MST and remanded the issue of service connection for a lower back disorder.

The Board denied entitlement to earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc disease, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and right lower extremity.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities, except for a 30 percent rating granted for the cervical spine disability starting from August 10, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for insomnia, PTSD, and a neck disability but remanded claims for headaches, back, right knee, and left knee disabilities.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for SMC based on a need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to an inadequate VA examination and conflicting evidence regarding the impact of her service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, effective October 20, 2022. The claims for left ear hearing loss and a respiratory disability were remanded.