Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a back condition, but remanded the claims for right knee condition, vision problems, and hypertension for further development.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities, finding that the Veteran's claims were not timely or supported by new evidence.

The appeal was denied for a compensable initial rating for right 5th metacarpal strain, and the issues of service connection for bilateral foot disability and low back disability were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for cervical radiculitis, degenerative disc disease with broad-based bulging disc at L4-5 with spinal stenosis, and medial epicondylitis of the left and right sides. The claim seeking entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches was dismissed. The claims for chronic dry eyes, plantar fasciitis, and fibromyalgia were remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, right and left thumb, index, long, ring, and little finger degenerative arthritis, and right knee tendonitis. However, a separate rating of 10 percent was granted for the group of minor joints composed of the right and left ring and little fingers.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from August 20, 2020, due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and an effective date earlier than January 5, 2022, for the grant of service connection.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left hip conditions and a lower back condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability with associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lower back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their link to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board remands the matter for a new VA medical opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection claims, finding no factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to the date of claim.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but denied it for sinusitis. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of a low back disability, claimed as lumbar spine condition and degenerative disc disease, to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability evaluations for lumbosacral strain, sinusitis, and right lower extremity scars to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, increased ratings, and service connection due to a lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, left wrist disability, hypertension, headaches, thoracolumbar spine (back) disability, right hand disability (also claimed as tingling), left ankle disability, and right ankle disability.

The appeal for service connection for arthropathic changes/degenerative changes of the bilateral knees, lumbar moderate degenerative changes, and neurocognitive disorder, also claimed as psychiatric disorder, is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including a new VA examination to clarify the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking the current condition to his active service.