Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bilateral flat feet and lumbosacral strain have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, cervical spine disability, respiratory insufficiency, and irritable bowel syndrome was denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his lumbar spine spondylosis and left knee degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded for further development regarding his right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder condition, left knee condition, lumbar spine condition (as secondary to left knee condition), right knee condition (as secondary to left knee condition), posttraumatic stress disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to service-connected disabilities with obesity as an intermediary step).,The Board found the evidence persuasive in favor of granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's back condition and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were denied higher ratings. The Veteran's back condition was rated based on the degree of flexion, with no unfavorable ankylosis noted.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for a groin condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and central canal stenosis was granted with an effective date of March 24, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with adjustment disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, effective May 23, 2025. Prior to this date, the Veteran's claim was denied due to insufficient evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD and central canal stenosis of the lumbar spine, finding that the appellant's current disability is at least as likely caused by his in-service injury.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and disc herniation are granted service connection as they are related to his military service. His Crohn's disease and right knee disorder do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right leg radiculopathy, finding that the appellant's symptoms are related to his military service.,Service connection is also denied for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea and gout, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 12, 2017. The effective date for the TDIU is set at December 12, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a back disability was dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, hand warts, and psychiatric disability due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reports regarding the etiology of these conditions.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An increased rating of 30 percent, but no higher, is granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) from February 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a failure by the AOJ to obtain his complete service personnel records and service treatment records, which were received prior to the issuance of the decision on appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection claims for left shoulder, right shoulder, and low back conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a left thumb disability and bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of current evidence showing these conditions.,For lumbar spine disability and lumbar radiculopathy, the claim is remanded as there are insufficient medical records to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has vacated the portion of its January 20, 2026 decision that denied an earlier effective date for TDIU and granted restoration of TDIU from October 1, 2017. The effective date remains February 13, 2019.