Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, hypertension, migraines, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the appellant's military service. The claims for service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, cervical strain, lumbar strain, left upper extremity (LUE) radiculopathy, right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy, left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy, left knee disability, and right ankle disability were remanded for further development.

The Board granted an effective date of February 1, 2019, for the award of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, strain, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and stenosis, as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and a higher rating for her right knee disability, while remanding claims for lower back and left knee disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The appeal for service connection for multiple conditions was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and remanded the claim for further development regarding migraine headaches.

The Board granted service connection for heart attack (myocardial infarction) status post triple coronary bypass, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension.

The appeal to readjudicate service connection for left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, lumbar spine disorder, and left hip disorder was denied as new and relevant evidence has not been submitted.

The Board granted the reinstatement of a 40% rating for lumbar strain, effective November 6, 2023, as the previous reduction was based on an inadequate VA examination.

The appeal as to the claims of service connection for shoulder pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is dismissed, and an effective date prior to April 18, 2024, for the award of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, to include degenerative arthritis and scoliosis, is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral knee conditions, bilateral shin conditions, and lumbar back condition was dismissed as it was not timely filed.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 13, 2023, for service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran due to his service-connected disabilities that have resulted in the effective loss or permanent loss of use in both lower extremities.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbosacral strain, spondylolisthesis, IVDS.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot condition, hearing loss, low back condition, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of cervicalgia with degenerative disc disease, to include as secondary to left and/or right lower extremity radiculopathy with foot drop, for an addendum medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, low back disability, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the low back disability.

The appeal was dismissed due to a formal defect related to the Veteran's concurrent election of multiple review options for the same issues.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hearing loss, as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions. The claims for service connection for various other conditions were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to his back pain.

The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to November 30, 2021, as the Veteran was not shown to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.