Back / lumbar spine — all decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and lumbar spine disability as there were duty to assist errors prior to the May 2025 rating decision.

The Board granted an effective date of January 21, 2022, for the award of service connection for PTSD and a rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) effective December 20, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the claim for a low back condition to obtain additional evidence and ensure an adequate medical opinion is provided.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a heart condition, back disability, nodes in lungs, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and sleep disorder to obtain additional evidence.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine based on the Veteran's limited range of motion, which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied higher disability ratings for the veteran's low back and lower extremity radiculopathies, pseudofolliculitis barbae, pes planus and plantar fasciitis, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition, bilateral upper and lower peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric condition, as further development is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for various conditions, including loss of the sense of smell, urinary problems, erectile dysfunction, and Parkinson's disease, among others.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical strain and lumbar strain to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including when the AOJ fails to make reasonable efforts to obtain VA treatment records, relevant federal or private treatment records; fails to obtain a VA examination; or provides an inadequate VA examination or opinion.

The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 1, 2015, and from January 10, 2017, as well as an effective date earlier than July 1, 2015, for the award of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, knee and back issues, neck strain, shin splints, shoulder strain, sinusitis, rhinitis, GERD, penile condition, and bilateral flatfoot.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes, sleep apnea, prostate cancer, urinary incontinence, residuals of gallbladder removal, gout and low back disability, as well as entitlement to a TDIU prior to April 20, 2023, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy on a secondary basis, finding the evidence to be in equipoise.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.

The veteran was granted a 100 percent disability rating for the thoracic spine (T12) compression fracture with lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, effective June 21, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain, left hip strain, right hip arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee. The appeal was denied for service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during his service and has progressively worsened since separation.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and denied increased ratings for several service-connected disabilities, as the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or aggravation related to service.