Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition to ensure an adequate VA examination is conducted.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability, back disability, GERD, hepatitis B, atopic dermatitis, and OSA. Tinnitus was denied.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative joint disease but remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted an effective date of December 5, 2022, for the award of a TDIU and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance based on permanent and total disability status.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's low back disability, as there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or functional equivalent thereof.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left plantar fasciitis, finding that credible evidence does not support a link between the condition and his active duty or ACDUTRA. The appeal was also remanded to address the low back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain status post left fibula and ankle injuries, right knee strain with painful motion, and right knee strain with limitation of extension.

The Board remands the claims for further development and examination to address the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease with IVDS status post spinal fusion, as well as his left and right upper and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted a disability rating of 40 percent, effective May 23, 2017.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disability due to outstanding records and an inadequate medical opinion.

The appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) was dismissed by the Veteran in written correspondence.

The motion to revise or reverse on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was dismissed without prejudice to refiling.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and knee degenerative joint diseases were granted increased ratings to 40 percent. Service connection for the knee conditions was also granted as secondary to his back and leg disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability, finding that a 20 percent rating was appropriate and no higher.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disorder to correct a duty to assist error, as an adequate medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's condition was not obtained.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis with rotator cuff tear, cervical strain, and low back disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing the Veteran's history of diving in service.

The Board granted an effective date of August 20, 2019 for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) and assigned initial disability ratings for lumbosacral spine strain with IVDS, right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, and hypertension.

The Board grants service connection for a low back disability, including degenerative arthritis, which is presumptively related to the Veteran's duties in service.

The Board grants service connection for cervical strain with degenerative disc disease other than IVDS, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis as it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's condition had onset during service or was caused by an in-service injury or event.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 25, 2005 for the 30 percent disability rating of left upper extremity radiculopathy but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for DDD of the cervical spine with spondylosis and adhesive capsulitis of the left shoulder.