Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The veteran's appeal for service connection of a low back disability, including lumbar strain and low back pain, was granted. The evidence was found to be in approximate balance, and the benefit of the doubt rule was applied.

The Board remanded the case to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder will be reconsidered with additional medical opinions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), secondary to service-connected low back and depression disabilities, with obesity as an intermediate step, is granted.

The veteran's requests for higher ratings for several conditions were denied, but the veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and a rating in excess of 10 percent for a back disorder was denied. The veteran was granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. Several other claims were remanded.

The veteran's service connection for a low back condition and foot drop was granted, but denied for erectile dysfunction and loss of use of the right hand.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings were denied. However, the veteran was granted a higher initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS and lumbosacral strain on and after February 8, 2018.

The appeal regarding the severance of service connection for PTSD was dismissed. Service connection for sleep apnea disorder was denied. The severance of service connection for hypertension was proper, while the severances for lumbosacral strain, right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, right knee tendinitis, left knee tendinitis, and erectile dysfunction were improper and service connection was restored. The issue of service connection for a headache disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD, was remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of February 26, 2021 for service connection for PTSD and a 20 percent rating for thoracolumbar spine strain and degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, athletes foot, dehydration, gastrointestinal issues, left knee disability, left ankle strain, left foot pain, low back disability, insomnia, and suicidal ideation. The Veteran's in-service experiences were not corroborated or related to hostile military activity.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for a left knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and depression due to procedural errors.

The veteran's claim for service connection of a left-hand disability was denied. The claim for a back condition was remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions but granted a 20% rating for right knee strain effective February 18, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's anxiety condition, heart failure, right toe pain, bilateral hearing loss, and lumbosacral strain. The veteran's rating for tinnitus remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied higher ratings for the veteran's service-connected sleep apnea, neck disability, and low back disability. The Board also dismissed claims related to educational assistance and radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for several service-connected conditions and TDIU.

The veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was granted with an effective date of September 18, 2019.

The veteran's psychiatric disability rating was increased to 70% starting April 8, 2020. The veteran is also granted TDIU beginning April 8, 2020. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, finding no evidence linking the condition to active service.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for several conditions were denied, but some issues related to service connection and ratings were remanded for further review.