Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, left hip, right hip, and left ankle disabilities were denied. The claim for a back disability was remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher disability rating and an earlier effective date for lumbosacral spine degenerative disease.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine disorder. The Veteran will undergo a new VA examination to determine the nature and cause of his condition.

The veteran's service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, right hip osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis s/p hip replacement, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The effective date for obstructive sleep apnea is September 29, 2020. The effective date for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and disc displacement is denied earlier than January 4, 2021. The effective date for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy is January 4, 2021. An initial evaluation of 30 percent for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and disc placement from January 4, 2021, to November 29, 2021, is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for chronic neck pain and low back pain due to procedural issues. The claims remain pending under different systems.

The Board remanded all issues to obtain adequate medical opinions on the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain, headaches, urinary frequency disability, and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to inadequate medical examinations.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. A compensable rating for left lower extremity surgery scar is denied. All other issues are remanded.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date for several service-connected conditions but remanded the issues related to initial disability ratings.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was remanded due to new and relevant evidence, but ultimately denied because the evidence did not show a diagnosis of a low back disability or functional impairment.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee issues, lumbosacral strain, and tinnitus were denied. However, service connection for a gluteal scar was granted.

The veteran's claim for a thoracolumbar spine disorder was granted an initial 40 percent rating from March 13, 2023 to February 9, 2024. However, the request for an effective date earlier than March 13, 2023 was denied.

The veteran's request for a disability rating above 70% for PTSD was denied, but they were granted TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate due to their service-connected PTSD.

The appeal for service connection of the veteran's back condition is remanded. The Board needs more information to decide if the back condition is related to military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for generalized anxiety disorder was denied. The claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and back disabilities were remanded for further evaluation.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral flatfoot and left shoulder condition was denied due to lack of new evidence. The appeals for left knee, right knee, low back conditions, and chronic right ankle disability were remanded for reconsideration based on new evidence.

The veteran's request for a higher rating for chronic lumbar strain was denied, but the issue of total disability due to service-connected disabilities was remanded for further review.

The veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, including scoliosis and other related conditions, has been granted. The decision is based on evidence showing that the condition progressed during active service.