Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's left knee condition, lower back condition, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability is granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current lower back disability is etiologically related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's back disability because there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the back.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU and is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

Service connection for the veteran's back and right ankle disorders was denied. The Board found that these conditions were not related to the veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions and a higher rating for tinnitus.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's right ankle and lumbar spine disabilities but remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for low back disability was denied. The claims for right and left hip disabilities were granted with an effective date of July 18, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability is remanded. The VA needs to obtain a new medical opinion based on the Veteran's prior medical history.

The veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, effective from August 25, 2022.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of a right knee disorder and low back disorder. The veteran will receive VA examinations to determine the nature and cause of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar disc herniation was denied because the evidence did not show that the condition began during active service or is related to an in-service event.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain and lumbar strain were denied. The veteran was granted increased ratings for cervical radiculopathy in both the left and right upper extremities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability is being sent back to the VA for further review. The Board needs more information about the Veteran's service records from Karshi-Khanabad Hospital.

The Board remanded the case to obtain missing private treatment records and additional medical opinions regarding the veteran's lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy conditions.

The veteran was granted a 40% rating for L5-S1 degenerative disc disease before February 14, 2024, and a 20% rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The request for a higher rating after February 14, 2024, was denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability was granted. The decision is based on the veteran's chronic lumbar spine condition during service and continuous symptoms post-service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left eye refractive errors. It granted an earlier effective date of September 21, 2017, for a 10 percent increased disability rating for the left wrist but denied further increases. The Board also granted a 70 percent increased disability rating for PTSD from January 22, 2017, to January 22, 2018, but denied further increases. Additionally, it granted a 20 percent disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from July 23, 2024.

The Board remanded all issues to obtain updated medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disabilities related to a right knee total arthroplasty, anxiety disorder, low back pain, and right leg pain have been granted due to the evidence not satisfactorily proving or disproving that these conditions were caused by VA negligence/lack of care in providing surgical treatment.