Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability at any point during the claims period or shortly prior to the claim being filed.

The Board remands the claim for an adequate examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with spina bifida occulta and IVDS from September 4, 2019 to December 13, 2023, and an effective date of September 4, 2019 for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbosacral strain with spina bifida occulta and IVDS.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for lack of response within 60 days of the Board's request for clarification.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 40 percent evaluation for IVDS, to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, as there was no factually ascertainable evidence that supported an increase in the disability rating within one year prior to March 8, 2022.

The Board granted an effective date of November 17, 2019, for service connection for cervical strain and lumbosacral strain but remanded the other issues.

The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates for entitlement to service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with tendinitis, lumbar spondylolisthesis and spondylosis, left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantial, gainful employment, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted.

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

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, right and left foot strains, tension headaches, pharyngotonsillitis, and right shoulder strain as the evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with bilateral sciatica as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities based on a private medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, lumbar strain disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including neck pain and stiffness, back pain and stiffness, radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities, knee pain and stiffness, and ankle pain and stiffness, as the October 2023 VA examination reports did not adequately identify the Veteran's subjective symptoms such as pain, stiffness, or weakness.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, right shoulder tendinopathy, and left shoulder condition. The claims for right upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a cervical strain were also granted. However, the claim for left upper extremity radiculopathy and gastroesophageal reflux disease were denied.

The Board granted service connection for dermatophytosis (tinea pedis and onychomycosis of the foot) with a rating of 30 percent, but denied service connection for multiple other conditions including hypokalemia, bilateral pes planus, cervical spine condition, left elbow condition, left foot hallux valgus, left hand condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, pain in left shoulder joint, right elbow condition, right hand condition, left extremity sciatica, right extremity sciatica, right knee condition, stomach issues, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claims for a back condition, hypertension, left knee condition, right knee condition, and foot pain to obtain additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal request was denied as it was not timely filed within the one-year period from the date of notification.

The Board granted restoration of the 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability, effective November 1, 2023, and denied a higher rating. The claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy and TDIU were remanded.

The appeal for service connection for anxiety was withdrawn and dismissed, while tinnitus was granted. Bilateral hearing loss and a lumbar disorder were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the Veteran's in-service exposure to hazardous noise.