Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for left hip piriformis syndrome and denied service connection for a right hip disability. The appeals of the March 3, 2023 proposal to reduce the rating for lumbosacral strain and the August 2022 rating decision regarding initial rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and service connection for left knee condition were dismissed.

The Board denied an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and remanded claims for service connection for eczema, COPD, lumbosacral strain with IVDS, bilateral restless leg syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and lung nodules.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, a bladder condition, and various other conditions including psychiatric issues, alopecia, musculoskeletal problems, and skin conditions. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and chronic sinusitis. However, it granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbosacral musculoligamentous strain, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, right ankle sprain, and allergic rhinitis. Service connection was granted for eczema (claimed as dermatitis) but denied for sinusitis, cirrhosis of the liver, cervical strain, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, and left ankle strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's lumbar disability, left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy (LLE radiculopathy), and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy (RLE radiculopathy) were granted ratings of 40%, 30%, and 20% respectively. The Veteran was also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the lumbar spine is granted a 40 percent rating, while other claims for increased ratings are denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include GAD and depressive disorder, as well as a cervical spine disability, right wrist pain, and left wrist pain. However, the claims for lumbar spine pain were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating higher than 40 percent for a back disability, as the evidence did not support a finding that his symptomatology more nearly approximated unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes requiring physician-prescribed bed rest.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded certain issues.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, chronic sinusitis, chronic headaches (secondary to chronic sinusitis), and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and insomnia disorder). The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board remands the claim for a cervical spine disability to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability was caused or aggravated by her service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and an eye disability, but denied a higher rating for hypertension.

The Board granted an effective date of April 24, 2014, for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, a rating of 40 percent from April 24, 2014 to August 13, 2020 for the back disability, and a separate rating for bowel incontinence associated with the back disability.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of December 12, 2023 for service connection for residuals of a left tibia fracture and denied increased ratings for various conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and a low back surgical scar, but denied service connection for right elbow condition, left elbow condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and kidney disability. The appeal of the proposed reduction in hypothyroidism rating was dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, nerve disorder of the right lower extremity, and nerve disorder of the left lower extremity to schedule VA examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding their relationship to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claim for an increased rating for low back strain to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine condition to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding its secondary nature, specifically whether it was caused or aggravated by a service-connected knee condition.