Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, right wrist, left wrist, lung condition, mental health condition (anxiety and depression), thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, plantar fasciitis, and migraine due to a lack of evidence supporting current disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral restless leg syndrome and a lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of current conditions related to the Veteran's military service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), left restless leg syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right ankle disability, right ankle scar, and hypertension. The Board also remanded several claims for further development.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the degenerative arthritis DDD other than IVDS with chronic lumbar syndrome since May 1, 2023, and remanded claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal condition, skin condition, and neck condition.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right foot drop. The claim for urinary dysfunction was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current condition was related to his active duty or ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, SMC at the M level based on loss of use of the lower extremities, and SMC at the O level based on the award of SMC L and SMC M. The claim for SMC based on housebound status was dismissed as moot.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for a low back condition for further development.

The Board granted an evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD and remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disability and lumbar spine condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between the condition and his active duty service.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability and a 30 percent rating for the right shoulder disability, effective from June 21, 2021. The decision also granted TDIU and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional errors and assist in the development of the Veteran's claim.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hernia, lumbosacral strain, left and right knee strains, and left and right shoulder strains due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted an effective date of November 29, 2021, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for a lumbosacral strain and January 11, 2023, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic), right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral), and left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral).

The Board granted service connection for back disability, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and residuals of left ankle injury.

The appeal for service connection for migraines and a back disability is dismissed as moot, while the appeals for a compensable rating for atopic dermatitis with telogen effluvium (hair loss) and service connection for left knee strain status post ACL repair are remanded.

The appeal for ratings in excess of 10 percent for left shoulder disability and 20 percent for lumbar spine disability was dismissed as there is no case or controversy over which the Board may exercise jurisdiction.

The Board granted service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the thoracolumbar spine, and for right and left knee degenerative arthritis post knee replacements.

The appeal for the issues of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and sinusitis are dismissed as a matter of law. The claim for a compensable rating for hypertension is denied.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but remanded the claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a duty to assist error.