Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal for earlier effective dates for various service-connected conditions was denied or dismissed due to the lack of legal basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his lumbosacral strain did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, his right knee meniscal tear did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his left knee strain was not secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety and a higher rating for PTSD, but remanded claims for diabetes mellitus, skin markings from toxic exposure, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal before a decision was made, and therefore the appeal is dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle disability and reopened claims for a chronic upper respiratory infection, but denied other claims including service connection for pain of the thoracic spine, bilateral restless leg syndrome (RLS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), psychiatric disability, back disability, lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle disability, rhinitis, sinus arrhythmia, and various other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's current back condition was incurred due to his military airborne duties.

The appeal was denied for an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for inner lip scars, and the claims for service connection for various disabilities were remanded due to missing records and a need for additional medical evidence.

The Board granted service connection for chronic headaches and denied a higher rating for allergic rhinitis, while remanding the remaining claims.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and coronary artery disease associated with herbicide agent exposure. Bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for digestive condition and sinusitis, but granted service connection for vitiligo of the penis and lipomas. The initial ratings for various disabilities were also denied.

The appeal was dismissed due to the untimeliness of the January 16, 2025 VA Form 10182 regarding claims for service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right foot disability.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability effective November 24, 2021, but denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent prior to that date.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral athletes' foot, onychomycosis and tinea nigra, a skin condition other than onychomycosis, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral restless leg syndrome, breathing issues, left knee pain, lumbar spine disability, migraines, an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as PTSD with anxiety and insomnia (also claimed as sleep disturbances), and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and status post left shoulder surgeries, but denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, sciatic pain in the right leg, sciatic pain in the left leg, right big toe pain, and a right upper extremity disability.

The Board denied an effective date prior to July 18, 2022, for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the service-connection claims for a back disability, left knee disability, and right shoulder disability to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.