Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's back condition, left knee strain, right knee strain, PTSD, Bipolar II disorder, and alcohol use disorder. It also denied entitlement to individual unemployability (TDIU). However, it remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for seborrheic dermatitis.

The Board remanded the case to determine if a previous rating decision for PTSD was in error. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral spine disability is not being considered.

The veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder with anxious distress, secondary to a service-connected low back disability, was denied. The effective date remains May 9, 2022.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for their lumbar spine disorder was granted, with a 50% rating assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits, finding that the evidence did not support unemployability due to service-connected disabilities before July 1, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's lower back pain status post lumbar surgery and upper thoracic paraspinal tenderness, finding that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The veteran's claims for a higher rating for left ovarian cyst with vaginismus, pelvic and perineal pain and increased special monthly compensation were denied. Claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left hip disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral plantar fasciitis were remanded.

The Board denied all claims for increased disability ratings and special monthly compensation.

The VA must restore the veteran's 10% rating for a lumbar spine disability. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating is remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of December 9, 2021 for service connection for multiple conditions related to the veteran's knee disabilities and secondary conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher ratings of degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood because these issues are still pending in the Legacy system.

The Board remanded all the veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in processing and a failure to obtain necessary medical records and examinations.

Service connection for the veteran's back disability is granted. The claims for radiculopathy of both lower extremities are remanded for further adjudication.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for thoracolumbar strain with scoliosis. The evidence did not show ankylosis of the spine or symptoms equivalent to unfavorable ankylosis.

The VA denied service connection for the veteran's neck, hip, and back conditions but remanded decisions on other issues to gather more evidence.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was denied because there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. The claim for tinnitus was remanded for further examination.

The veteran's service connection for a low back disability was granted. The Board found that the veteran's low back pain, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and other conditions, is related to an incident during his service in Iraq.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen claims for COPD, GERD, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and PTSD because new and relevant evidence was not received.

The appeal for service connection of a low back condition is remanded. The Board will consider new evidence and obtain adequate medical opinions.