Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine degenerative arthritis disability, and left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis disabilities based on credible evidence of in-service onset and post-service continuity of symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol or unspecified hyperlipidemia, tuberculosis (TB), traumatic brain injury, migraines, low back disability, neck disability, and others. The claims were not supported by sufficient evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for GERD and a left knee disability, while denying service connection for other conditions. Some issues were remanded for further development.

The appeal for service connection for a low back disability was withdrawn by the Veteran and is therefore dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine scoliosis and lumbosacral strain. The rating for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain residuals was increased to 20 percent on September 11, 2024.

The Board restored the Veteran's 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy effective January 8, 2018. The Veteran was denied a compensable rating prior to August 16, 2024, and an increased rating thereafter.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as these issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board remands the claims for higher initial evaluations of the Veteran's service-connected back and left hip disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for back, left foot, right foot, and left knee disabilities but granted service connection for tinnitus. The denial of bilateral hearing loss was also upheld.

The Board denied service connection for right and left foot disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability (PTSD), but remanded the claims for a low back disability and knee disabilities for further development.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability and an unspecified depressive disorder to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a lower back disability and a left lower extremity nerve disability due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a psychiatric disorder as secondary to the lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused or aggravated the current conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, a back condition as secondary to the knee disability, and anxiety. The claim for a compensable rating for migraines was denied, and the claim for a neck condition as secondary to the knee disability was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the claims for back, hip, right wrist, and unspecified sleeping disorder disabilities.

The appeal is remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction for further proceedings consistent with a Joint Motion for Remand.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative disc disease, left and right cervical radiculopathy, secondary to the neck disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for several conditions, granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and effective dates from July 15, 2020, for TDIU and DEA benefits, but denied earlier effective dates.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD and granted service connection for tinnitus, while remanding claims for service connection for various other disabilities.