Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for herpes (cold sores) and denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, a back disability, left knee pain, left shoulder disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, right lower extremity restless leg syndrome, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left and right hand essential tremors, seborrheic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids, right upper extremity radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction, and an increased rating for a psychiatric condition.

The Board denied a rating higher than 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 24, 2025.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis under the PACT Act and denied or remanded other claims.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving doubt in the Veteran's favor. The other claims are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board denied the motions for revision of the July 2015 rating decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) to assign higher disability ratings for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right shoulder, and right elbow disabilities.

The Board remanded several claims for further development and readjudication, including service connection for OSA and hypertension, as well as increased ratings for right wrist sprain, MDD, tension headaches, and other musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed back disorder.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with left side radiculopathy, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder and unspecified depressive disorder effective March 3, 2021, and a 30 percent rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease from January 26, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for a thoracic spine disability but denied it for a lumbar spine disability, claimed as displacement of the lumbar disc with degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for radicular pain paresthesia of the right and left lower extremities, an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for acquired psychiatric disorder, an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle disability, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability, and a compensable disability rating for the fifth finger of the right hand. The claims for service connection for cervical spine disability and migraines were remanded.

The Board granted a higher rating of 30 percent for right shoulder arthritis effective February 1, 2024, and denied ratings higher than 20 percent for left shoulder arthritis, higher than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, higher than 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion, higher than 10 percent for right knee instability, and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, interstitial lung disease, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis. The claims for service connection were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a right hip sprain and initial disability ratings of 40 percent for right shoulder degenerative joint disease, 40 percent for right elbow epicondylitis, 20 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease, and 20 percent for right ankle degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent disability rating for right knee subluxation effective July 27, 2023, and TDIU. An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the same condition was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board granted special monthly compensation at the rate authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) and remanded claims for SMC based on housebound status and an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and/or adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS and bilateral foot conditions, prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment from August 31, 2010, to January 30, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder arthritis, left shoulder tendinitis, right shoulder arthritis, right shoulder contusion, neck disability (cervical spine stenosis, degenerative changes, degenerative disc disease and spondylosis), right upper extremity tremors, and left upper extremity tremors as they were not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from February 13, 2014, to July 2, 2023, due to the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.