Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied higher initial ratings for tension headaches, PTSD, and back disability as the Veteran's symptomatology did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for a back disability, specifically to adjudicate the Veteran's allegation of clear and unmistakable error in a January 1969 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for various claimed conditions and a compensable rating for acne, as the evidence did not support the existence of current disabilities.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for lumbar spondylosis with arthritis to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's condition, considering his in-service injuries and post-service symptoms.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder and hypertension, as further development is necessary.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to a back disability, and alcoholism as secondary to a back disability due to procedural oversights in obtaining complete Reserve records.

The Board's decision is remanded to obtain additional evidence for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and effective date claims.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 20 percent rating from April 29, 2010, but no higher. The claim for TDIU prior to March 2, 2014, was denied.

The Board remands the claims for further development as there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, memory loss, blood disorder, PTSD, lower back disorder, and gastrointestinal disorder, to include GERD, as there was no evidence of a current disability or nexus to active duty.

The Board granted an effective date of February 28, 2022, for the grant of service connection for sleeping issues to include insomnia but denied earlier effective dates for both conditions.

The Board remands the issues of increased ratings for degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, lumbosacral radiculopathy of the lower left extremity, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied service connection for several conditions, including ADHD, right ear hearing loss, G6PD deficiency, intestinal disability, eye disability, and others. However, the Board has granted service connection for cervical spine arthritis.

The Board denied the applications to revise an October 2022 rating decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for assigning effective dates of May 27, 2021 for various service connection claims.

The Board granted an effective date of May 13, 2019, for service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with post-traumatic arthritis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with post-traumatic arthritis, and degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no causal relationship between the current disability and active service.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to ensure an adequate assessment of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including range of motion measurements in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positions.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including an adjustment disorder with anxiety, but denied and remanded the claims for a back condition.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury and bilateral hearing loss, but granted earlier effective dates for a 40 percent rating for low back disability and for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted a compensable initial evaluation for prostate cancer residuals and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied increased ratings for tinnitus, TBI, and other conditions. Effective dates were also granted for the grant of service connection for certain disabilities.