Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder due to an insufficient medical opinion that addresses the Veteran's period of ACDUTRA from May 2022 to February 2024.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection and increased ratings as the appeal was untimely.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine condition to obtain an additional medical opinion that considers the Veteran's lay statements regarding his condition.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder condition and a left knee condition, but denied service connection for a right knee condition. The Board also granted an initial 50 percent rating for migraines.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no evidence of a current disability or sufficient link to military service.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis, as well as left lower extremity radiculopathy, to schedule a VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar spine, right hip, left hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities, to obtain additional medical opinions regarding their relationship to the Veteran's service-connected flat foot with plantar fasciitis and bilateral bone spur.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, left shoulder pain, respiratory insufficiency (dyspnea), lumbar spine pain, and plantar fasciitis. The claim for pes cavus was denied.

The Board remands all claims for a VA examination to determine the relationship between each claimed disability and service or another service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for degenerative disc disease with cervical strain, as there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or a higher rating under other criteria.

The case is remanded for a new examination to properly assess the Veteran's back disability, considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions during flare-ups and employment history.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for lumbosacral strain, tinnitus, bilateral flat feet, and left ankle deltoid ligament sprain with instability were dismissed due to untimely Board Appeal requests.

The Board granted an effective date of April 24, 2007, for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain but denied earlier effective dates for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The Board denied increased ratings for several service-connected conditions, granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, and remanded other issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on either incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress was found to more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent was denied.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for erectile dysfunction and remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for slight lumbar scoliosis with IVDS.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, cervical strain, and lumbosacral and thoracic strains as the evidence showed that these conditions pre-existed the Veteran's active duty and were not aggravated by it.

The Board granted increased ratings for sinusitis, left knee condition, right knee condition, back condition, and right hip condition, effective from August 15, 2023.