Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability that began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for mechanical low back pain with right leg shortening, but granted an initial 40 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and granted service connection for a cervical strain. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and low back disability were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot, leg, hip and low back condition as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were directly related to active-duty service or secondary to a service-connected knee condition.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's back disability effective September 3, 2015, and denied a higher rating prior to that date.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including left and right elbow, lumbar spine, and bilateral knee disorders, due to deficiencies in prior opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, but dismissed the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a lumbar spine disability as moot.

The Board remands the claim for a back condition to schedule an addendum VA opinion.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the regular need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected traumatic brain injury, major depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with IVDS, and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for cervical strain and lumbosacral strain is dismissed due to multiple pending appeals under both the legacy review system and the modernized review system.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, a back disability, bilateral upper and lower extremity nerve disabilities, chronic fatigue syndrome, and GERD as there was no evidence of a current disability or a nexus to service.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and generalized anxiety disorder, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted increased ratings of 20 percent for right and left knee limited flexion, a 40 percent rating for the low back condition, and a 30 percent rating for right shoulder strain, all effective June 23, 2023.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disorder, muscle pain affecting the back, left shoulder disorder, muscle pain affecting the left shoulder, and headaches due to incomplete service records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and lower extremity radiculopathies to ensure a complete record is available.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and IVDS, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve).

The Board granted an effective date of April 17, 2023, for the award of a 40 percent rating for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a psychiatric disorder to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine condition and dismissed the claim for PTSD, while denying claims for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, TBI rating increase, status post right knee meniscectomy rating increase, and scar rating.