Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for missing teeth and remanded the claims for temporomandibular disorder, left knee disability, and back disability due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board denied increased ratings for multiple service-connected conditions and denied service connection for several additional conditions, including tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, left sciatic radicular pain of the left leg, traumatic brain injury (TBI), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome, and a back disorder.

The Board denied service connection for shin splints, a low back disability, and a left ankle disability. The effective date for the award of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress was also denied.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea and a lumbar spine disability was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative arthritis, as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current condition was related to his military service.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for gastritis with duodenitis and service connection for a left thumb condition, lumbar spine condition, and breast cancer and female reproductive health conditions due to inadequate evidence and failure to ensure VA fulfilled its duty to assist in obtaining private treatment records.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lumbar spine disability, a cervical spine disability, and a left knee disability due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal for a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis is remanded due to the unavailability of the original Veterans Law Judge and lack of response from the Veteran regarding additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and an earlier effective date for total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee strain disability, and lumbosacral strain due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral sprain, while remanding the claims for left hip strain, right hip strain, left knee instability, right knee instability, and tachycardia.

The Board granted service connection for a disorder of the feet, claimed as status post bunionectomy and status post gallbladder removal. The claims for tinnitus, PTSD, and other back, bladder, GERD, hysterectomy, neck, shoulder, hip, knee, and plantar fasciitis disabilities were denied or remanded.

The appeal for service connection for a lower back condition was withdrawn by the Veteran before the Board could make a decision.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right knee disability, and an increased rating for headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis, as well as an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies of the femoral and sciatic nerves.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for restricted lung disease and a compensable rating for tension headaches, while remanding the claim for service connection for low back strain.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis (lumbar spine), and lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity. The claims for PTSD, alcohol use disorder, a right shoulder disorder, and sleep apnea were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist, specifically regarding joint range of motion testing.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD, a TDIU prior to July 13, 2019, and increased ratings for the lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.