Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for asthma with pulmonary nodules, denied an increased evaluation greater than 40 percent for thoracolumbar strain, and granted a 10 percent evaluation for right lower extremity radiculopathy effective September 1, 2023.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for the low back condition, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and related knee and shoulder strains as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating and a separate compensable rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and left lower extremity radiculopathy, respectively.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in scheduling examinations.

The Board granted service connection for a temporomandibular joint disorder, sleep disorder (claimed as obstructive sleep apnea), lumbar spine strain, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder. The claim for traumatic brain injury was denied.

The Board remands the issues of an evaluation higher than 30 percent for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, as well as service connection for a lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), to correct the AOJ's error in providing notice of the Veteran's right to a pre-decisional hearing.

The Board granted restoration of the 20% disability rating for lumbosacral strain and the 10% disability rating for right knee instability, while denying higher ratings for other conditions.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to service connection for various conditions and an effective date prior to March 13, 2024, for the award of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board granted service connection for a back condition, finding that the evidence supports a direct relationship between the Veteran's current back condition and an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service connection for GERD was granted, while the claims for a low back disability and increased ratings for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress with bruxism were denied. The rating for the psychiatric condition was increased to 70 percent effective May 10, 2024.

The Board denied or dismissed the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, higher ratings, and service connection for various conditions, with some grants of earlier effective dates and initial ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, but remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

The appeal for service connection for unspecified depression with anxious distress, moderate (claimed as insomnia) was dismissed. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The lumbosacral strain to include DJD and DDD was remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine spondylosis, lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, left knee/leg disability, and right knee/leg disability to obtain a VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder and service connection for a lumbar disability to correct an error by the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and increased ratings, finding that no evidence supports an earlier date than April 1, 2024.

The appeal for service connection for lumbosacral strain was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision could be made.

The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including right and left hip, elbow, ankle, knee, wrist, and lower back conditions, based on the Veteran's in-service trauma.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding it at least as likely as not that the condition resulted from the Veteran's active military service.