Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted the appeal and restored the 40% evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as the 20% evaluations for left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and lumbosacral strain with radiculopathy due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a compensable rating for hypertension, increased ratings for degenerative disc disease with scoliosis, and service connection for tinnitus.

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.

The Board denied increased ratings for spondylosis of the lumbar spine and migraine headaches, granted a 50% rating for PTSD from March 3, 2019, and granted TDIU and DEA benefits from that date. Sleep apnea was remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and tension headaches (including migraine headaches).

The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021 for service connection for IBS and GERD, cervical strain, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right wrist sprain, lumbosacral strain, right and left lower extremity sciatic and femoral radiculopathies, tinnitus, and PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, as there was no evidence of a current disability that had its onset during military service or within one year following separation from service, and the evidence did not show that it was caused by military service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's back disability, granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back condition is related to service, including an injury during basic training.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder. The Board also granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder from November 8, 2021.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and de Quervain's tenosynovitis of the right wrist. The appeal to reduce the evaluation of PTSD from 70 percent to 30 percent was dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for earlier effective dates of service connection for various conditions, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these withdrawn appeals.

The Veteran's migraines were granted a 30 percent rating from May 4, 2023, but an initial rating in excess of 30 percent was denied. Service connection for various knee and hand disabilities, as well as a back disability, was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran experienced pain related to his back disability since separation from service and establishing continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral pes planus with calcaneal spurs and hallux valgus, right foot, but granted a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease from September 21, 2021, to January 19, 2024. The Board also remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to outstanding records and a need for further medical examination.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the case for a new medical opinion and to acquire outstanding relevant treatment records.