Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left foot and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him incapable of maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted a 20 percent rating from May 8, 2012 to January 26, 2018 due to painful limitation of motion and guarding resulting in abnormal gait and spinal contour.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's back disability, characterized as degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, low back disability, and obstructive sleep apnea, to obtain additional medical opinions addressing aggravation as distinct from causation.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's GERD symptoms, including dysphagia, pyrosis, reflux, regurgitation, substernal arm/shoulder pain, frequent sleep disturbances, and vomiting, have resulted in severe impairment of health for the entire period on appeal from July 28, 2010 to September 21, 2023. As a result, a disability rating of 60 percent is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's back condition, including degenerative disc disease L5 to S1, sacralization on the left side L5, pseudarthrosis, a lower back strain, muscle spasms, sclerosis across the synchondrosis, or pseudoarticulation at L5-S1 on the left side is being evaluated again for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability. The case is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings and a need for additional retrospective assessments.

The appeal for service connection for a low back disability is remanded due to an inadequate Board decision.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for several conditions, including neck disability, shoulder disability, and various joint issues. The decision was based on errors in duty to assist and the need for further development of the evidence.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for lumbar spine disability was granted with an effective date of October 16, 2018. Other issues related to hip disabilities and ratings were remanded or denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, diagnosed as grade 1 anterior listhesis with disc bulging at L5/S1, degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc disease, is granted. The decision is based on new and relevant evidence submitted after the initial denial.

The appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea and a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The appeals for right knee, left knee, right shoulder, left shoulder, lumbar disorders, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were remanded.

The veteran's appeal for chronic fatigue syndrome was dismissed. The veteran's ratings for lumbar degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy were restored to 20 percent. The veteran was granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD and special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound criteria.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's back disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The evidence did not show these conditions were related to the veteran's service.

The veteran's rating for degenerative disc disease was restored to 20 percent. Service connection for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve paralysis was denied.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for a 40% rating of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was dismissed because it was improperly docketed in the modernized review system.

The Board dismissed claims for diverticulitis, hiatal hernia, right ankle disability, and left finger scar. Claims for left ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. Other conditions were remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, right hip, and right ankle disabilities were withdrawn. The claims for left foot disability, low back disability, left hip disability, left ankle disability, and respiratory disability were denied.