Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to missing medical records and inadequate medical opinions.

The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for IBS and a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease. The veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy disability rating was restored to 20 percent. Other claims were denied or dismissed.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for a higher rating of lumbosacral strain and service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examinations and missing records.

The Board remanded all claims for higher ratings due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain relevant community care records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was denied. The Board found that the April 1992 RO rating decision correctly applied existing legal authority and no undebatable error was shown.

The veteran's rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was restored to 20 percent. The veteran is also granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) and left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve). The issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and lumbosacral strain is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to November 12, 2022, for service connection of several conditions. The earliest effective date allowed by law is November 12, 2022.

The appeals for service connection and increased disability rating were dismissed due to an untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement.

Service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes is granted. All other conditions are denied.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of a left hip disability and lumbosacral strain, both secondary to a service-connected left patellofemoral syndrome. The VA needs to conduct adequate examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and opinions regarding the etiology of his ankle, knee, and leg disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings related to various knee and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the appropriate level of amputation if performed, as well as retrospective findings for the October 2020 examination report.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of right knee and low back disabilities. The decision was based on the need for a qualified VA examiner to provide an opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities are remanded. The Board needs to notify the Veteran about the unavailability of his Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, lumbar spine, and hemorrhoids disorders due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lay statements are consistent with functional ankylosis of his lumbar spine.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than the Veteran's service-connected persistent depressive disorder, dysthymia, with anxious distress. The claim for a back disorder is also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left great toe disability and a low back disability were denied because the evidence did not show that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 29, 2009, to January 5, 2016. The effective date for TDIU is set at the earliest of receipt of claim and date entitlement arose.

The veteran is granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 31, 2016.