Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The veteran is granted an effective date of January 1, 2018, for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The veteran is also eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The veteran's service connection claims for left and right ankle conditions, left hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome were granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his back disability is remanded. The VA will schedule another examination to determine the severity of his service-connected back disability.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for a higher rating of thoracolumbar strain and service connection for lower back disc protrusion and paralysis sciatic nerve. The Board found that additional medical examinations are needed to adequately assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal to maintain a separate rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the original decision to sever this service connection was proper due to clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran is granted TDIU.

The veteran was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a separate rating of 10 percent for left knee instability. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, including psoriatic arthritis, bilateral shoulder disability, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic pain, and chronic fatigue. The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for left and right knee OA with chondrocalcinosis was withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower extremity loss of sensation, herniated disc (cervical radiculopathy), bilateral shoulder condition including degenerative joint disease, bilateral elbow condition including degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine disability, and basal cell carcinoma due to insufficient medical opinions regarding exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is not related to service or any service-connected conditions, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the issue of a TDIU prior to September 29, 2009 due to insufficient evidence indicating that the Veteran was unemployable by reason of service-connected disabilities. The case is now pending for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it is less likely than not related to service and did not onset within a year after separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities other than her major depressive disorder, finding that the evidence did not show she was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due solely to her service-connected physical disabilities.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 20, 2019, was remanded.

The Board remanded the claim for a new VA opinion to determine the severity of the veteran's lumbar spine disability and whether it constitutes the functional equivalent of ankylosis.

The veteran is granted an effective date of October 22, 2008 for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claims for service connection for several conditions, including low back disability and diabetes mellitus, type II, were granted. The claim for rheumatic fever was remanded.

The Board remanded the claims for service connection of a right leg condition and degenerative joint disease lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence.

The Board remanded the case to determine if the veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date for his total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

Service connection for herpes, hearing loss, and right ankle disorder was denied. Service connection for low back disability was granted.