Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease because new evidence was not adequately addressed.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but the claims for service connection for a back disability and TDIU were remanded for further action.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar strain was denied, but service connection for bilateral hip strain was granted. The claim for headaches was denied.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions but remanded others for further review.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating higher than 20% for their lumbar spine condition. The evidence did not support a higher rating.

The veteran's disability rating for lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis was restored to 20 percent, effective January 9, 2023.

Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the spine is granted. The evidence was in approximate balance, but the veteran received the benefit of the doubt.

Service connection for the right ankle sprain and right knee strain was granted. Service connection for the left ankle condition, left knee condition, left hand condition, and left elbow condition was denied. The issues of entitlement to service connection for the right hand condition, right elbow condition, right hip condition, and back condition were remanded.

The veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for back and left ankle disabilities were denied, but the claim for a higher rating for ADHD was remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was granted based on the PACT Act. All other claims were either dismissed, denied, or remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle, low back, and left hip disabilities. The issues are also intertwined with a claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100.,A 30 percent rating for GERD has been granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals for ratings in excess of 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted for the period from September 16, 2004, to July 5, 2023. The Board found that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings assigned for his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities is being remanded due to failure to comply with the Board's May 2023 remand directives.,The effective dates of the Veteran's TDIU and special monthly compensation awards are inextricably intertwined with the other issues being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain prior to October 4, 2016 and from October 4, 2016 were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain a gainful occupation for the period prior to October 11, 2022. For the period of October 11, 2022, to the present, his PTSD has been rated at 100 percent and other conditions have independently warranted ratings that bring his combined rating to 70 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia and lumbar spine disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation since January 3, 2013.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his thoracolumbar spine disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed the claims as they are no longer on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the entire appeal period prior to January 29, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.