Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted restoration of the 40% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, while denying increased ratings for right lower extremity and femoral nerve radiculopathies, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for acne and a 40 percent rating for TBI, but remanded the claims for higher ratings for knee strain with bone spur, left knee strain, and lumbosacral strain.

The appeal for service connection for headaches was dismissed due to an improper concurrent election of review lanes. The claim for a low back disorder is remanded for further development.

The Board denied an increased initial evaluation for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's disability more closely approximated a 10 percent rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and granted initial disability ratings of 10 percent for left hip strain limitation of extension and right hip strain limitation of extension.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition, tinnitus, and a gastrointestinal condition (GERD), while denying service connection for hypertension. The claims for headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome were remanded.

The Board remands the case to obtain a retrospective medical opinion on the extent that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities affect his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative disc disease L5-S1 and a rating in excess of 20 percent for left sciatic radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability based on in-service aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected cervical strain and disc herniation L4-L5 with lumbar stenosis and facet arthropathy, both currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for hypertension, fracture of the right ring finger, lumbar scar, right ankle scars, and right ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied initial ratings above the assigned levels for various service-connected conditions, except for a 50 percent rating for tension headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition due to lack of evidence showing a current disability and an in-service incurrence or aggravation of an injury or disease.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis, and remanded the claim for further development regarding a back disability.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, a left foot disability, a left knee disability, a left lower extremity nerve condition, a back disability, a right foot disability, a right knee disability, a right lower extremity nerve condition, and sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST), lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded claims for lumbar disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and tinea versicolor due to missing service treatment records.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder, finding that the symptoms more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board restored the 40% rating for lumbar spine intervertebral disc disease with chronic strain residuals, effective October 15, 2019. The claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied.