Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that February 11, 2014, was the earliest possible effective date based on the receipt of the application to reopen the claim.

The Board granted restoration of the 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with degenerative arthritis and restored the 40 percent ratings for left lower extremity (LLE) sciatic radiculopathy and right lower extremity (RLE) sciatic radiculopathy, effective September 16, 2022. The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the back condition beginning June 3, 2023, granted a separate noncompensable rating for urinary leakage secondary to the back condition beginning June 3, 2023, and denied increased ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for asbestosis with obstructive sleep apnea, granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability, and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee disabilities, but granted a 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine mid/lower back beginning on October 26, 2023, and denied increased ratings for left ankle strain, right ankle strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, and tension headaches.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, right elbow, and nerve issues in both upper and lower extremities, to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors identified by the AOJ.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and lumbosacral spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted an effective date of August 24, 2009, for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral spine, left lower extremity mild sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity mild sciatic radiculopathy. An earlier effective date was denied for the scar associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board remands the claim for a back condition, to include lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease, due to an inadequate VA examination and failure to obtain private medical records.

The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for IVDS with spondylolisthesis and DDD prior to July 13, 2022, and remanded the issue of a compensable disability rating for GERD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right shoulder disabilities, as well as an extraschedular referral for TDIU.

The Board denied a claim for entitlement to an increased disability rating for service-connected DDD of L3-S1 with lumbosacral strain and IVDS, as well as claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board denied increased ratings for the lumbar spine disorder and left-lower-extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) prior to September 8, 2023, but granted an increased rating of 40 percent from that date. The Veteran was also granted initial 40 percent ratings for right-lower-extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve).

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition for further development, including new VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board granted a 60 percent disability rating for the Veteran's connective tissue disorder from November 16, 2012, to May 22, 2016, and denied a higher rating in excess of 60 percent. The Board also denied ratings in excess of 30 percent and 70 percent for left hip degenerative joint disease and right foot hallux valgus, respectively.

The Board remands the claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings to ensure compliance with a prior Board remand.

The Board remands the case to ensure compliance with the Court's directives regarding missing VistA imaging records and updated treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to obtain or perform substantially gainful employment.

The veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy from February 12, 2010 to April 14, 2023 and denied ratings in excess of the current levels for other conditions.

The appeal for higher ratings and TDIU was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims through his attorney.