BVA Decisions on Back

212 real veterans-appeals decisions on VA disability claims involving back — Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions and U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) decisions, each labeled with its court. Each links to the full decision, reasoning, and citations.

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• CAVCCase 90-1360 — Unknown 1993-03-01
  The appellant asserts that, although he did not submit evidence that was "new and material", under the precedents of this Court, so as to reopen his previously and finally denied c...
• CAVCCase 19-0001 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2018-09-04
  A May 2009 private nexus opinion notes that [d]ue to the impossibility to use [the right] arm the appellant....
• CAVCCase 23-6651 — Affirmed 2024-08-21
  In the October 2023 decision on appeal,the Board denied entitlement to benefits for degenerative arthritis;lumbosacral disc degeneration with herniated disc and moderate stenosis a...
• CAVCCase 11-3732 — Affirmed / Remanded 2011-05-02
  The Board denied disability compensation for headaches,noting that (1)evidence demonstrating headaches in service related the headaches to the appellant's sinus problems, and the a...
• CAVCCase 24-1022 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2025-06-30
  The Board noted that neither the veteran nor his representative alleged any error with VA's duty to assist or a lack of substantial compliance with the September 2022 Board remand ...
• CAVCCase 96-1214 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 1999-02-11
  In the May 28, 1996, BVA decision here on appeal, the Board denied service connection for wounds of the lower extremities, frostbite of the feet, a skin disorder of the feet, heari...
• CAVCCase 15-2585 — Vacated / Remanded 2017-03-30
  This matter was referred to a panel of the Court, with oral argument,to address the circumstances under which the duty to assist requires VA,in a claim for service connection for a...
• CAVCCase 94-503 — Affirmed 1997-11-05
  The appellant, appeals a March 16, 1994, decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA or Board) that denied a claim of service connection for a right hip disability after determ...
• CAVCCase 22-1071 — Vacated 2021-10-26
  October 2019 Board Remand and Development In an October 2019 remand order,the Board found that a new VA examination was required to address the severity of her service-connected le...
• CAVCCase 19-4559 — Vacated / Remanded / Affirmed 2019-03-19
  The appellant ,through counsel appeals a March 19,2019,Board of Veterans'Appeals (Board) decision finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen a claim of ...
• CAVCCase 19-5724 — Vacated / Remanded 2019-04-26
  She also argues in her initial brief that an August 1990 rating decision never addressed whether this evidence from 1989 and 1990 was new and material evidence within the meaning o...
• CAVCCase 23-5618 — Affirmed 2024-11-25
  McDonough ,the appellant argues that remand is required for the Board to use the correct test for 'employment in a protected environment,'that his employment did or did not shield ...
• CAVCCase 24-7325 — Vacated / Remanded / Affirmed 2025-12-11
  The RO denied the claim as to the right shoulder because he had not submitted new and material evidence and as to the left shoulder because there was no evidence of nexus or of an ...
• CAVCCase 23-5486 — Denied / Remanded 2025-03-31
  In April 2021,the Board remanded the case for an additional medical opinion, noting that the October 2020 medical opinion did not address the questions posed in the Board's remand ...
• CAVCCase 11-0325 — Affirmed 2011-01-03
  The appellant appears to argue that the Board's determinations that he was not entitled to VA benefits for a left knee disability,sling palsy,and trauma to the left side of the wai...
• CAVCCase 12-1845 — Reversed / Vacated / Remanded 2012-05-21
  For the reasons that follow,the Court will reverse the Board's finding that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence sufficient to reopen his 1 The Board referred to a ...
• CAVCCase 24-4510 — Unknown 2025-09-09
  PIETSCH, Judge : the appellant ,through counsel,appeals an April 4, 2024,Board of Veterans'Appeals (Board)decision that (1) denied service connection for upper extremity neurologic...
• CAVCCase 19-2504 — Unknown 2018-12-18
  The appellant , through counsel,appeals a December 18,2018,Board of Veteran's Appeals (Board)decision in which the Board denied service connection for a neck condition and bilatera...
• CAVCCase 23-2829 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2024-09-30
  However,after weighing the evidence,the Board found the veteran's contemporaneous statements at separation from service,which denied headaches and muscle pain,to be more credible t...
• CAVCCase 93-1220 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 1996-08-01
  In a September 1978 BVA decision, the Board denied service connection for a back disability....
• CAVCCase 10-1267 — Remanded / Affirmed / Reversed / Vacated 2010-04-05
  , through counsel,appeals an April 5, 2010,Board of Veterans'Appeals (Board)decision in which the Board denied the appellant's claims to reopen a previously denied claim for servic...
• CAVCCase 21-3714 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2021-04-12
  In his brief,the appellant argued that the Board erred in relying on a medical opinion premised on medical treatises,without addressing the probative value of the opinion in light ...
• CAVCCase 17-3598 — Vacated / Remanded 2017-06-13
  The appellant , through counsel,appeals a June 13,2017,Board of Veteran's Appeals (Board)decision in which the Board denied service connection for an inguinal hernia and back disab...
• CAVCCase 22-1803 — Unknown 2021-11-26
  The veteran asserted that though he was granted service connection in March 1985 for neuropathy of the left common peroneal nerve,the March 1985 rating decision did not address ser...
• CAVCCase 10-1922 — Remanded / Vacated / Affirmed 2010-05-26
  Because the Secretary concedes,and the Court agrees, that the Board provided inadequate reasons or bases for its determination that new and material evidence had not been received,...
• CAVCCase 22-2306 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2021-12-29
  The appellant , through counsel,appeals a December 29,2021,Board of Veterans'Appeals (Board)decision in which the Board denied service connection for (1)asthma,manifested by shortn...
• CAVCCase 21-0347 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2020-09-29
  The examiner is notified that findings of not due to, not caused by, and not related to are insufficient to address the question of aggravation....
• CAVCCase 23-0038 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2022-05-09
  In response to a claim received on March 15,2018, 4 a VA regional office (RO) denied service connection for both diabetes and anxiety based on a lack of new and material evidence,a...
• CAVCCase 22-7547 — Affirmed 2022-11-29
  There must be a nexus of auditory damage to relate current hearing loss to military noise and not another etiology....
• CAVCCase 23-4685 — Unknown 2023-06-13
  The appellant's hearing loss was less likely than not related to his military service....
• CAVCCase 20-1455 — Vacated / Remanded 2019-12-27
  In October 2003, the appellant requested that his disability compensation claim for the back be reopened based on new and material evidence....
• CAVCCase 23-4298 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2024-06-06
  Additionally,the Board awarded disability compensation for pseudofolliculitis barbae and found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen claims for disability com...
• CAVCCase 12-885 — Vacated / Remanded 2011-11-22
  In doing so,the Board found that the appellant's military occupational specialty and personnel records ....
• CAVCCase 06-1464 — Vacated / Remanded 2006-02-01
  The appellant had submitted new and material evidence sufficient to reopen a claim for service connection for a lower back disability; (2) denied that claim on the merits; (3) deni...
• CAVCCase 19-7428 — Remanded / Vacated 2019-08-05
  The examiner noted that the appellant's headaches are not related to his TBI,but he did develop some personality changes following his in-service head injury,which he believes have...
• CAVCCase 23-5851 — Remanded / Vacated 2024-11-27
  The accompanying medical opinions concluded that the veteran's left and right foot conditions were less likely than not related to service because there was [n]o chronic evaluation...
• CAVCCase 14-1556 — Vacated / Remanded 2014-04-18
  3 In September 2009,the veteran underwent a VA spine examination,where a VA examiner opined that the veteran's current low back pain was less likely than not related to service,cit...
• CAVCCase 22-4895 — Vacated / Remanded 2022-07-11
  A VA examiner in October 2013 concluded that the appellant's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was less likely than not related to service....
• CAVCCase 18-4571 — Vacated / Remanded / Affirmed 1992-08-24
  The Board also determined that new and material evidence had not been received and therefore declined to reopen previously denied claims for benefits for right ear hearing loss and...
• CAVCCase 24-293 — Remanded 2025-05-30
  Specifically,the Board noted that the appellant reported to have received treatment for all his claim conditions at Munson Army Health Center in Ft....
• CAVCCase 18-5936 — Remanded / Vacated 2018-07-02
  l the negative clinical opinions of record that found that appellant's right shoulder disability is not service connected....
• CAVCCase 16-3963 — Affirmed 2016-09-30
  SCHOELEN, Judge :the appellantthrough counsel,appeals a September 30,2016 Board of Veterans'Appeals (Board)decision in which the Board denied a disability compensation claim for a ...
• CAVCCase 07-1008 — Affirmed / Remanded / Vacated 2007-03-09
  The appellant,through counsel,appeals a March 9, 2007,Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)decision in which the Board denied his claims for entitlement to service connection for a ba...
• CAVCCase 24-0597 — Reversed 2025-04-29
  In a July 2010 Statement of the Case (SOC),the AOJ again declined to reopen claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and back condition,finding no new and mater...
• CAVCCase 94-1080 — Affirmed / Vacated 1996-11-26
  Subsequently, the RO and then the Board denied service connection for residuals of a head injury....
• CAVCCase 21-3379 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2021-03-17
  Following the examination,VA sought an additional medical opinion,explaining that the prior examiner also noted a diagnosis of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH),a condition that i...
• CAVCCase 08-3802 — Affirmed 2008-07-17
  Because the Board's findings that VA complied with its duty to assist and provided adequate medical examinations were not clearly erroneous,and because the Board provided an adequa...
• CAVCCase 12-2012 — Affirmed / Remanded / Vacated 2012-02-29
  The appellant averred that the veteran submitted new and material evidence within the one-year appeal period and that VA had failed to adjudicate the claim on the merits....
• CAVCCase 21-3087 — Vacated / Remanded / Affirmed 2021-01-19
  The matter 3 returned to the Board in April 2009,and the Board denied the appellant's claim for benefits for a low back disability....
• CAVCCase 92-1347 — Affirmed 1944-03-09
  The appellant, had not submitted new and material evidence regarding his claim for service connection for a back condition, and thus refused to reopen this previously and finally d...
• CAVCCase 20-1421 — Affirmed 2019-10-30
  After reviewing the February 2018 examination,the Board denied the appellant service connection for his conditions based on a lack of nexus between the disabilities and service....
• CAVCCase 22-411 — Vacated / Remanded 2021-09-26
  The appellant , through counsel,appeals a September 26,2021,Board of Veterans'Appeals (Board)decision in which the Board denied service connection for (1)a lumbar spine disability;...
• CAVCCase 22-2282 — Affirmed 2022-03-21
  The appellant underwent a VA examination in March 2013;the examiner diagnosed cervical spondylytic myelopathy and opined that the condition was not related to service....
• CAVCCase 04-0584 — Vacated / Remanded / Affirmed / Reversed 2009-10-02
  In my opinion he is allergic to certain paints and vapo[r]and these occa[s]ional respiratory symptoms are not related to the exposure of fumes in Gulf War....
• CAVCCase 23-4103 — Reversed / Vacated / Remanded 1956-11-02
  VA twice declined to reopen the veteran's claim,finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted....
• CAVCCase 19-5987 — Affirmed 2019-05-13
  The appellant ,through counsel appeals a May 13, 2019,Board of Veterans'Appeals (Board)decision that found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen previousl...
• CAVCCase 15-2247 — Vacated / Remanded / Affirmed 2015-05-14
  The appellant ,appeals through counsel a May 14, 2015,decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)that,among other things, denied service connection for a back disability aft...
• CAVCCase 21-0697 — Vacated / Remanded 2020-10-06
  In the October 2020 decision on appeal,the Board denied an initial rating greater than 10% for tinea pedis with onychomycosis and denied service connection for a low back disabilit...
• CAVCCase 12-0393 — Vacated / Remanded 2011-10-14
  In December 1981,the Board denied the appellant entitlement to disability benefits for a left knee disability....
• CAVCCase 23-3920 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2024-09-24
  The RO and the Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the back claim....
• CAVCCase 17-3135 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2017-08-02
  The examiner also concluded that the appellant's in-service back muscle strain and muscle spasm had resolved without residuals,and that such conditions did not cause and were not r...
• CAVCCase 12-3649 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2011-06-09
  As an initial matter,the Board found that VA had satisfied its duty to assist because (1)VA had obtained the veteran's SMRs and there was no indication in the record that additiona...
• CAVCCase 20-5554 — Affirmed 2020-06-02
  2 In October 2014,the Board denied service connection for a kidney stone disability....
• CAVCCase 23-2108 — Vacated / Remanded 2023-02-24
  The matter returned to the Board, but in August 2022,the Board determined that another remand was warranted for the RO to attempt to obtain outstanding treatment records....
• CAVCCase 09-3727 — Affirmed 2009-06-10
  Lay Testimony The appellant argues that the Board failed to consider credible lay evidence with regard to his service-connection claims for left knee disability,depression,back pai...
• CAVCCase 21-5427 — Unknown 2021-07-15
  The veteran appealed to the Board,and in a March 2006 decision,the Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss....
• CAVCCase 99-357 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 1998-09-29
  ent of Veterans Affairs (VA) service connection for hernias and a low-back disorder; (2) found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen a previously and fina...
• CAVCCase 11-1074 — Vacated / Remanded 2011-01-14
  Based upon these facts,and a discharge examination revealing no pulmonary abnormalities ,the physician concluded that the veteran had mild asbestosis but that it was more likely th...
• CAVCCase 14-0635 — Affirmed 2014-01-02
  He contends that VA failed to satisfy its duty to assist him by gathering relevant documents and providing an adequate medical nexus opinion....
• CAVCCase 12-2187 — Affirmed / Vacated / Remanded 2012-03-21
  The appellant's current hearing loss was less likely as not related to or caused by in-service noise exposure....
• CAVCCase 12-1295 — Vacated / Remanded 2012-02-07
  The examiner diagnosed DJD of the lumbar spine,but stated that he was unable to resolve the issue of nexus without resort to speculation....
• CAVCCase 23-3939 — Vacated / Remanded 2025-02-28
  In August 2020,the Board determined that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, and the Board remande...
• CAVCCase 23-0107 — Unknown 2022-11-21
  And the Board recognized that the veteran was competent to report his symptoms and to report,years after separation, when he was diagnosed with arthritis,but the Board found that t...
• Fed. Cir.Case 08-2236 — Unknown 2011-09-15
  The appellant appeals from the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (“the Veter- ans Court”) holding that the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) ha...
• CAVCCase 21-3036 — Vacated / Remanded 2021-02-02
  On February 2,2021,the Board denied a rating in excess of 20%for the back disability, including a separate rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to August 1...
• CAVCCase 22-0257 — Remanded / Affirmed / Vacated 2021-11-26
  On November 26,2021,the Board found that new and relevant evidence had not been submitted to warrant readjudication of the claims for disability compensation for tinnitus and erect...
• CAVCCase 24-0638 — Vacated / Remanded 2025-03-24
  The appellant argues that the Board erred by (1)failing to address favorable evidence and to lay a proper foundation for denying service connection for tinnitus;(2)failing to discu...
• CAVCCase 91-1288 — Unknown 1945-12-10
  KRAMER, Judge: the appellant appeals the April 15, 1991, decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA or Board) which determined that new and material evidence had not been subm...
• CAVCCase 09-3181 — Vacated / Affirmed 2009-04-30
  Because the Board failed to ensure compliance with its September 2007 remand order regarding the appellant....
• CAVCCase 15-4758 — Vacated / Remanded / Affirmed 2015-08-24
  The Board also granted the appellant's claim for entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinnitus and assigned a disability rating of 10%and reopened and remanded his claim...