Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back condition to obtain more evidence and schedule an examination.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and Dependents Indemnity Compensation. The evidence did not show that a service-connected condition was a principal or contributory cause of the Veteran's death.

The veteran is granted an effective date of February 1, 2019 for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraines was denied. The claims for service connection for right hip and back disabilities were remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral lumbosacral disorder, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and right temporal trauma due to failure to adequately identify the intended Board review option.

The veteran's claims for cervical strain, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and left shoulder strain were denied. However, the veteran was granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with arthritis, spondylosis, and dextroscoliosis of the thoracic spine, as well as sciatic lumbar radiculopathy in the right lower extremity.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims for increased ratings for low back disability and GERD, as well as the claim for TDIU, are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, headache disability, and right shoulder disability were dismissed because they had already been granted. The claims for back disability and left wrist disability were remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance from October 27, 2011. This decision is based on the Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to obesity caused by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted the appeals to readjudicate claims for service connection for a heart disability, lumbar spine back disability, upper respiratory condition, and sleep condition. All other issues were remanded.

The veteran's PTSD rating was increased to 70% from December 7, 2009 to April 29, 2021. The effective date for DEA eligibility was granted as of January 28, 2021. However, the request for an earlier effective date for SMC and a higher level of SMC were denied.

The Board vacated its previous decision and will re-adjudicate the appeals. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied based on the evidence available at the time of the May 2019 rating decision.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's left knee condition, back condition, and right elbow condition.

The Board remanded the claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea due to new and relevant evidence. The claim for a low back disorder was not remanded.

The Board remanded the case to schedule a new VA examination for the Veteran's service-connected back disability. The current evaluation was deemed inadequate.

The veteran's disability ratings for low back strain and radiculopathy were restored to previous levels, but the issues of higher ratings and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) were remanded.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a back disability to obtain more information and correct errors in VA's duty to assist.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of multiple conditions, including hip tendinitis, shoulder strain, upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain. The VA examinations were deemed inadequate, and further evaluations are required.