Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, finding the evidence to be in approximate balance regarding its relation to an in-service injury.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and a lumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an automobile allowance was granted, while several other claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board also denied the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability to obtain an addendum medical opinion, as the previous opinions were found inadequate.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disorder to obtain additional medical evidence and ensure that the Veteran is afforded every possible consideration.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, effective immediately. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for left knee tendonitis with patellofemoral pain syndrome and degenerative joint disease based on limitation of flexion from October 4, 2024, to the present, and a 50 percent rating for the same condition from February 5, 2025, to the present.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition, neck condition, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include insomnia disorder. The claims for the remaining conditions were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back condition and dizziness due to insufficient VA medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and right leg nerve disability as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis and strain of the thoracolumbar spine, a 20 percent rating for femoral radiculopathy, but denied any higher ratings for sciatic radiculopathy. Special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate was also granted.

The Veteran's service connection for right ankle range-of-motion loss, secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain status post laminectomy and microdiscectomy, was granted. An earlier effective date of March 1, 2016, but no earlier, for the 20 percent rating assigned for lumbar strain status post laminectomy and microdiscectomy was also granted.

The appeal for service connection for a low back disorder was dismissed as the RO granted service connection in a November 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran was granted a rating of total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based upon service-connected disorders effective July 20, 2022, and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 for the same effective date.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to a need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and updated VA treatment records.

The Board granted an effective date of July 25, 2022 for the initial rating of 40 percent for a back condition and 10 percent for a sciatic condition.

The Board remands the claims for a right wrist disorder and thoracolumbar spine disorder for additional development, including obtaining new VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back osteoarthritis and traumatic brain injury to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, as the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left hip condition, right hip condition, cervical strain, and back condition due to an incomplete duty to assist error in failing to afford the Veteran VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for shin splints, left leg; shin splints, right leg; and a compensable rating for genital herpes.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, prostate disability, and kidney cancer due to inadequate medical opinions and potential outstanding VA treatment records.