Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease prior to August 1, 2025 was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to March 10, 2025 were denied as there is no neurological impairment associated with these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbosacral and right knee disabilities due to a failure to obtain adequate secondary service connection opinions regarding these claims. The new opinions must address both causation and aggravation, considering the Veteran's theory that his current conditions are related to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits, finding that no formal or informal claim was received prior to May 22, 2015. The Veteran is in receipt of a TDIU effective from May 22, 2015.

The Board has denied service connection for urinary disorder, erectile dysfunction, typhoid arthritis, and lumbar spine disorder as there is no persuasive evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 31, 2017, for the award of service connection for lumbosacral strain (back disorder) was denied as a matter of law.,Claims for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied with effective dates set at July 12, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, as secondary to tinnitus, is granted. The claims for service connection for hearing loss disability and a disability manifested by shortness of breath other than chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are denied. The claims for service connection for an intestinal disability (diverticulitis), fatigue, hypertension, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, upper and lower back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right hip disability, left hip disability, right foot pain, left foot pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the service connection of multiple conditions, including low back disability, bilateral foot disability, cervical spine disability, migraines, right hand and shoulder disabilities, right wrist disability, asthma (claimed as Gulf War Syndrome), chronic fatigue syndrome, dysmenorrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and sleep disability. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, OSA, and a low back disability must be remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right knee disability has been dismissed due to failure to timely perfect an appeal.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating more than 40 percent for low back disability has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder, gout, multiple painful joints, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, upper extremity neurological, and lower extremity neurological disabilities due to inadequate VA medical examinations in March 2019 and January-May 2016. The new examinations must consider the Veteran's reported onset dates for his symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine was granted with effective dates of May 13, 2019.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated medical opinions regarding the Veteran's eligibility for VA's PCAFC program, as there are conflicting findings in the existing records and new evidence may be needed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of his back condition due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeals to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, shin splints of the right and left lower extremities, multiple sclerosis (MS), thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, left elbow disorder, left knee disorder, migraine headaches, and right knee disorder are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain residuals and spondylosis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, Depression, Alcohol Use Disorder (Substance Abuse), Respiratory Disorder, Hypertension, Low Back Pain, Neck Disability, Migraine Headaches, and Right Arm Residuals are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.,Specifically, the VA needs to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors, obtain VA medical opinions regarding his mental health conditions, respiratory disorder, hypertension, low back and neck pain, and migraine headaches, and provide a VA examination for his right arm residuals.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back and left hip conditions due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for any of the claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted.