Back / lumbar spine — all decisions

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction, but granted an increased rating of 40 percent for a low back disability (intervertebral disc syndrome) and 20 percent for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for an intestinal disability, manifesting as irregular bowel movements causing impairment in earning capacity. The Veteran was also denied a higher initial rating for low back pain with degenerative arthritis, stenosis, and strain, but granted a 10 percent rating from March 30, 2024, for tension headaches.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for chronic low back pain, upper back pain, right hand disability, left hand disability, headaches, and right knee disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbar spine bone spurs, right hip strain, and left hip strain to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

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

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including OSA, cervical spine condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and others, but dismissed appeals for obesity, TMJ, insomnia, left elbow, and right elbow. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for metabolic syndrome and remanded claims for diabetes, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and tension headaches due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and denied it for left flat foot (pes planus), while remanding the claims for right foot pes planus and right wrist disability.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and multiple musculoskeletal conditions but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability, both before and after November 8, 2024.

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 denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with DDD, a cervical condition as secondary to the claimed lumbar degenerative changes, and bilateral upper extremity nerve conditions as secondary to a cervical disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for urinary incontinence, and a higher rating for lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a mood disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including generalized anxiety disorder and orthopedic conditions, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is due to in-service noise exposure. The low back disability claim was remanded for further development.

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 Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and TDIU due to missing records.

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.