Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability and remanded issues related to back and macular degeneration disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability as it is less likely than not that the Veteran's low back disability was related to his service or caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as special monthly compensation and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the appeal for further development to address deficiencies in a recent VA examination and to comply with caselaw regarding the evaluation of musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board grants an initial 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, an initial 20 percent disability rating for the cervical spine disability, and an initial 10 percent disability rating for the right long finger disability, all effective from November 1, 2009.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability, lumbar spine disability, and erectile dysfunction as the conditions were not shown to be related to the Veteran's period of service or caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for flat feet and a back disability as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or that the conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a lumbar spine disorder, as well as a TDIU claim, to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for restless leg syndrome at a 10 percent rating and denied service connection for injury to teeth, while remanding the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hemorrhoids, neck disability, and low back disability.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for left knee patellar femoral syndrome, right knee patellar femoral syndrome, low back strain, and right hip bursitis.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, but denied service connection for lumbar central spinal canal stenosis L2-L3.

The veteran withdrew his entire appeal, and the Board dismissed all claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and chronic fatigue syndrome, but granted service connection for functional dyspepsia, abdominal pain, and bloating. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, while dismissing the appeals for low back disability and emphysema. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's low back, right elbow, and left knee disabilities as there was no evidence that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip disability, back disability, and scars as secondary to knee or back surgery due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The claim for skin condition was remanded.

The Board granted the appeal for severance of service connection for bilateral temporomandibular joint disorder, unspecified, with bruxism (TMJ) and denied the appeals for severance of service connection for left elbow disability, right elbow disability, left hip disabilities, right hip disabilities, and back disability.

The Board denied restoration of the 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and denied increased ratings in excess of 40 percent, as well as compensable ratings for residuals of right hand crush injuries.

The Board remands the claims for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's colon cancer and any outstanding VA treatment records.