Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted an effective date of March 31, 2017, for the award of service connection for degenerative disc syndrome with intervertebral disc syndrome, claimed as back pain.

The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable disability rating for tension headaches and an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbosacral spine condition to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, right ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to obtain additional medical evidence.

The appeal was withdrawn by the appellant on June 13, 2024, and is therefore dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the Veteran's left foot, bilateral ankle, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran's current low back disorders are related to service, including his reports of in-service back pain.

The Board remands the claim for a back condition to afford the Veteran an appropriate examination and ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability evaluation for the Veteran's low back disability and denied an increased rating for the right wrist disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, residuals of an inguinal hernia, and left and right foot disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine degenerative joint disease to remedy pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining additional evidence and scheduling an examination.

The proposed reductions in the ratings for GERD and lumbosacral strain were dismissed as they were not final decisions, while the issues related to patellofemoral pain syndrome with tendinitis of both knees are remanded for further examination.

The Board remands the claim for a back disability to schedule an examination that addresses whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused obesity, which in turn aggravated the back disability.

The appeal was denied for various conditions, including persistent depressive disorder with memory loss, lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, tinnitus, and knee strains. The service connection for degenerative arthritis was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for left hip strain, right hip strain, left patellofemoral pain syndrome, right patellofemoral pain syndrome, and lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), all as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral shin splints.

The Board granted the Veteran's timely notice of disagreement regarding the effective dates assigned for service connection for coccyx injury residuals with lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability.

The Board granted service connection for plantar fasciitis and a lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee strains, but remanded the claim for idiopathic urticaria.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral foot condition and lower back condition due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board granted the appeals seeking an effective date of August 10, 2021, for the awards of service connection for bilateral hip disabilities and low back strain with arthritis and instability.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical spondylosis and stenosis with IVDS, lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and IVDS, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, radiculopathy of sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of femoral nerve of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the external cutaneous nerve of the thigh of both lower extremities. However, a 40 percent rating was granted for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity and a 30 percent rating was granted for radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied service connection for a liver disorder, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disorder, back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. Some claims were remanded.