Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restored a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability effective October 25, 2022.

The Board remands the issues of increased ratings for hearing loss, back disability, and associated lower extremity radiculopathies due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability in excess of 10 percent prior to October 23, 2014, and in excess of 20 percent from October 23, 2014, to March 19, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral foot disorder, a left knee disorder, a right knee disorder, and a lumbar spine disorder as there was no evidence of current disabilities related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied an initial rating more than 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability and granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher, for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve).

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and PTSD with schizoaffective disorder, but denied service connection for depression and bipolar disorder. The effective date for the awards of service connection was set to November 6, 2017.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical strain, right knee flexion and extension, and low back disabilities but granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability in the right ankle.

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

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a right shoulder disability, and remanded the claim for back disability due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability and right lower extremity disability to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability and service connection for radiculopathy, right lower extremity, as well as DEA benefits.

The Board granted service connection for left hip strain, right hip strain, and back pain, diagnosed as stenosis and traumatic arthropathy of the low back, based on evidence showing these conditions began during active service.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding a positive nexus to the Veteran's in-service activities. The issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral pes planus based on new evidence, but denied increased ratings for residuals of right inguinal hernia repair and right groin scar. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral pes planus.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The Board granted the claims to reopen for back, left shoulder, and neck disabilities but denied service connection for a skin disability, including tinea cruris. The back disability claim was denied on the merits, while the other claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder based on the evidence showing that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Board restored the previous ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability and a 20 percent rating for a left knee disability, while denying service connection for aseptic meningitis and back disability, and denying an increased rating for the left ankle disability.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for right knee strain, low back sprain, and left knee strain due to lack of jurisdiction.