Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and a higher rating, as well as restoration of a 20 percent disability evaluation.

The appeal for service connection for a low back condition was denied because the VA Form 10182 seeking review of the previous denial was not timely filed.

The Board granted service connection for low back disability, diagnosed as spondylolisthesis at L4 and degenerative disc disease at L2-L3 and L4-L5. The left and right foot issues were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including left wrist, lumbar spine, right hip, right leg, left leg, bilateral foot, and onychomycosis of the right foot.

The Board remands the appeal to obtain an addendum nexus opinion that adequately considers all relevant evidence, including lay reports of symptoms and medical records.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral hip disorder, manifested by pain and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine. The claim for a hand disorder was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several service connection claims.

The appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and service connection for various conditions was dismissed due to concurrent election.

The appeal for service connection for heart condition, hypertension, low back strain with spondylosis, and exotropia of the left eye was dismissed due to a claims processing defect.

The Board granted the readjudication of claims for service connection based on new and relevant evidence, but remanded other claims for further examination.

The Board granted an effective date of March 31, 2022, for the awards of service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied a rating greater than 50 percent for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and remanded the claim for a rating greater than 20 percent for a service-connected lumbar condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that there is no evidence of a relationship between the condition and his military service.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities and a TDIU due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The appeal as to the proposed reduction of the rating for degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome, mild disc bulge with moderate central disc protrusion L5-S1 is dismissed due to procedural issues. The claim for a higher rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity, is remanded.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain effective June 1, 2024, while denying ratings in excess of 20% and initial disability ratings in excess of 10% for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathies.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam. The claims for service connection for GERD, right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability were remanded for further development.

The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with lumbar spasms, IVDS, bulging disc, and spondylolisthesis.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to untimely notice of disagreement for both the reduction in rating and service connection claims.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and denied service connection for hearing loss. The claim for a kidney disability was remanded for further development.