Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of left lower radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain. The Board found that the January 2023 VA examination was incomplete and inadequate.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because the service-connected disabilities, either alone or in combination, did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis and L4-L5 disc protrusion as secondary to a service-connected knee condition is granted.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's low back and right shoulder disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or relation to service.

The appeal for service connection of a back disability, including as secondary to bilateral knee disabilities, was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent disability rating for lumbar IVDS with degenerative arthritis. The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing the condition met the criteria for such a rating before May 18, 2022.

The Board remanded the veteran's claim for service connection of lumbar spine conditions, requiring a new medical opinion on whether these conditions are related to service or aggravated by a service-connected cervical spine condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded a claim for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected low back disability.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of migraines, low back strain with degenerative joint disease, and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and denied an increased rating for degenerative disc disease with lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve.

The Board remands the claims for an increased disability rating and earlier effective date as it finds that additional evidence, specifically treatment records from a chiropractor and physical therapist, needs to be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for his service-connected PTSD, headaches, lumbosacral strain, right hip disability, left hip disability, and cervical strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, finding that it was not factually ascertainable prior to January 4, 2023, that his conditions began during active service or worsened to a level warranting an increase in evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, neck condition, bilateral foot condition, bilateral hand / fingers condition, and bilateral wrist condition as the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's period of active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of a back condition and bilateral radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, as the earliest entitlement arose on March 20, 2023.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and a higher initial rating, finding no basis to award an earlier date or a higher disability rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, left shoulder, and obstructive sleep apnea disabilities due to inadequate medical nexus opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and an initial rating for various conditions due to incomplete records.