Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for headaches and remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain (claimed as chronic pain) and nerve damage, left upper nerves.

The Board denied an initial rating greater than 70 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, granted TDIU from January 8, 2020 to June 19, 2022, and granted DEA benefits effective the same date.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right wrist disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right hip, left hip, and back disabilities for further development.

The appeal for service connection for a degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine disorder is dismissed as it has been fully granted. The claims for service connection for a degenerative disc disease, cervical disorder, cervical and ulnar neuropathy LUE radiculopathy, and an URI are remanded for readjudication.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings, and the Board dismissed all issues.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a lumbar spine disability due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for initial ratings of hypertension and lumbosacral strain, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board granted an effective date of January 16, 2018, for the awards of service connection and subsequently assigned ratings for left ankle, right lower extremity, and right hip disabilities, as well as a 20 percent rating for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for a back disability for a new VA medical examination and opinion.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability manifested by pain and functional impairment, as well as lumbar radiculopathy affecting the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for PTSD, a low back disability, and migraines due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and neurological disability of the bilateral lower extremities due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for COPD due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to the Veteran's military service. The other issues related to service connection are being remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding a link between his June 1969 spinal injury and current arthritis.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various joint conditions, cervical spine arthritis, lumbosacral spine arthritis, and radiculopathy of the upper extremities to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding VA Community Care records that need to be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.