Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral knee and hip disabilities, heart disease, erectile dysfunction, COPD, and denied an initial rating higher than 50 percent for MDD with GAD.

The Board remands the claim for a lower back disability to the AOJ for an examination and opinion on its etiology.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a low back disability, major depressive disorder, fibroid tumors, and complete and total hysterectomy due to concurrent elections of review requests.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was granted a rating of 40 percent on and after August 11, 2018.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability for further development of evidence.

The appeal for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss was denied.,The appeal for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss was denied.,Service connection for right ear tinnitus is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for left ear tinnitus is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for right foot disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for left foot disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for right ankle disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for back disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for right knee disability secondary to service-connected right foot disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for left knee disability secondary to service-connected left foot disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected right and left knee disabilities is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The veteran has formally requested the withdrawal of all pending appeals before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, and lumbosacral strain but granted service connection for dermatitis as secondary to allergic rhinitis. The Board also granted a separate 10 percent rating for left foot plantar fasciitis and a 20 percent rating for cervical strain from May 31, 2024.

The Board remands the case to obtain complete service treatment records, including Reserve STRs, as they may contain evidence pertinent to the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or illness and no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and granted service connection for a left anterior tibia scar, status post hematoma laceration. The claims for bilateral pes planus (flat feet) and sleep apnea were dismissed, while the remaining claims were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for further development and evidence gathering.

The Board granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for a back disability based on new and relevant evidence, but remanded the issue for further development.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral foot plantar fasciitis and a TDIU prior to July 24, 2025, while denying higher ratings for back disability, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and mental health disability.

The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder as the evidence did not support the presence of current disabilities related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine disability from July 17, 2009, to September 9, 2022, and remanded the claims on appeal.

The Veteran's depressive disorder alone rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and she is entitled to a TDIU for accrued benefits purposes on and from December 19, 2015. Additionally, the Veteran meets the criteria for SMC based on statutory housebound criteria for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for neck and low back disabilities due to insufficient information in previous examinations.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee condition, and service connection for back, left shoulder, left knee conditions, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral knee and low back disabilities to obtain additional medical evidence, as the previous decision did not adequately consider the Veteran's in-service accident and post-service statements regarding functional impairment.