Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions due to lack of current diagnosis and functional impairment.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for low back disability, headaches, and respiratory disability were dismissed. The appeal for a higher rating for insomnia disorder and compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The appeal for service connection of a lower back condition, including as secondary to a bilateral knee condition, is remanded. The Board needs more information on whether the lower back condition was aggravated by the knee condition.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as moot because the veteran already has a combined 100 percent rating.

The appeal was dismissed because the veteran died while it was pending. The dismissal does not affect the right of an eligible person to take the Veteran's place to continue the appeal on the pending claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a right lower extremity nerve condition have been remanded. The Board needs more medical records to make a decision.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a low back condition because no new and relevant evidence was received.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for cervical spine strain with degenerative disc and joint disease and GERD was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.

The veteran's higher rating for lumbar spine disability was granted with an effective date of May 28, 2021. All other issues were denied.

The Board remanded all issues to address a duty-to-assist error and locate missing private treatment records.

The veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the statutory housebound rate from June 29, 2011. The issue of TDIU prior to June 29, 2011, is remanded for further consideration.

The veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and a 20 percent rating for lower left extremity radiculopathy. The veteran's claims for higher ratings for left hip strain were denied.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for knee conditions were denied. The appeals for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were dismissed due to untimely filing. The appeals for bilateral shoulder disabilities and sleep apnea were remanded.

The veteran was granted a 40% disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy before January 7, 2022, and a maximum 50% rating for headaches from May 1, 2019. The veteran was also granted TDIU and DEA benefits since May 1, 2019. However, the veteran's request for an increased disability rating in excess of 60% for right lower extremity radiculopathy since January 7, 2022, and earlier effective dates were denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for low back disability was denied, but an initial 20 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatic nerve impairment was granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back condition, and a left knee condition. It also denied a compensable rating for right knee scars.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher disability ratings for various conditions related to Parkinson's disease was mostly denied, but a separate 30 percent rating for difficulty chewing and swallowing and a 20 percent rating for sexual dysfunction were granted.

The veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, including as secondary to bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's case will be reviewed again with new evidence.

The veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to hospital treatment exceeding 21 days was denied. The claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and a cervical spine condition were remanded.