Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic left wrist sprain, chronic right wrist sprain, and lumbosacral strain to obtain additional medical opinions that address the appellant's lay statements about the onset and history of his symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board denied initial disability ratings for various conditions, including GERD, shoulder strain, elbow strains, lumbosacral strain, and knee conditions. A separate rating was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy due to the service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability and musculoskeletal disorders, as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the claimed conditions.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of April 20, 2019, for the awards of service connection for DDD of the spine and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to untimely filing of the Board Appeal requests.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right peroneal nerve, right total knee replacement with traumatic arthritis, and chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and IVDS.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the left and right foot great toe ingrown toenails but granted a 10 percent rating for the painful right foot great toe ingrown toenail. The claims for increased ratings for the left knee strain with instability and service connection for a lumbar spine disability were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine disability, bladder and bowel incontinence, vertigo, and right knee disability as there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, lower back disability, and right foot plantar fasciitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition and a low back condition due to insufficient evidence regarding dates of active duty, ACDUTRA, INACDUTRA, and outstanding medical records.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and granted higher initial ratings, earlier effective dates, or SMC in some cases while denying them in others.

The Board remands the claims for increased rating of lumbosacral strain and entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound status due to outstanding evidence and a need for additional medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hernia repair, left and right knee conditions, left and right wrist conditions, a low back condition, and a neck condition to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable rating and service connection due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including missing VA treatment records and unfulfilled examination requests.

The claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee strain, left knee strain, right ankle strain, and shin splints are remanded to obtain new medical opinions that fully address the Veteran's contentions.

All appeals for higher initial ratings and service connection were dismissed as they were duplicative of previously addressed appeals or due to untimely filings.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left hip strain and lumbosacral strain with back spasm due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 4, 2015 for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps on a presumptive basis due to presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during active service in Southwest Asia. The claims for sleep apnea syndrome and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine were remanded for further development.