Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back condition, eye (vision), left knee condition, right knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, neck condition, and tension headaches due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including bilateral ovarian cysts, hyperprolactinemia, IBS, right shoulder strain, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, and uterus fibroids with amenorrhea.

The appeal for service connection for various conditions was dismissed as untimely because the Veteran did not timely file a VA Form 10182 within one year of the May 2021 rating decision, and good cause has not been shown.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine disabilities based on new and relevant evidence of continuous symptoms since service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain due to the need for additional development, including scheduling new VA examinations within the appropriate contractual mileage.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for further development due to an inadequate medical opinion and potential missing records.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding it related to military service. The skin condition claim was remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining the qualifications of the VA examiner and readjudicating the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck condition, including degenerative disc disease, as the evidence did not support a finding that her current condition was related to an in-service injury or event.

The Board remands the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability prior to October 5, 2022, due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board remands the claim for a VA medical opinion to consider lay reports of back pain since service.

The Board denied service connection for low back strain, tinnitus, and PTSD. However, it granted a 30 percent disability rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and remanded the claims for bilateral knee conditions.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's back condition, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the claimant.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for hypertension and lumbosacral strain (back pain) based on new evidence, while denying increased ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder and tinnitus. The Board also remanded several other claims for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 40 percent rating for her lumbar spine disability, finding that the criteria were not met prior to May 9, 2023.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between the condition and active service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar, right knee, and left knee disabilities but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board also remanded service connection for asthma.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraines and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the applicable criteria.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and an earlier effective date for the grant of basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.