Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee, right knee, left shoulder, right shoulder, lumbar spine, and right wrist conditions. The claims of entitlement to service connection for a skin condition and left eardrum rupture are being remanded.

The Veteran's lower back pain has been granted service connection, with the claim being reopened based on new evidence.,Service connection for left and right knee injuries is denied as there are no current diagnoses.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of the Veteran's psychiatric disability is dismissed. The Veteran's initial disability rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability is granted at a 70 percent level.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete TERA development and inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and secondary service connection for RLE radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 6, 2022, for the award of service connection for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain have been dismissed.,The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and associated radiculopathy disabilities (left and right lower extremities) have been granted effective from May 19, 2010. Effective dates for the initial increased ratings of sciatic radiculopathy are set at June 4, 2021, with a temporary increase to 20 percent for femoral radiculopathy. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for right lower extremity femoral radiculopathy is denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and spondylolisthesis was denied, as his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS from January 23, 2020 is denied. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to major depressive disorder is granted. The Veteran is also entitled to SMC based on the loss of use of a creative organ.

The appeal for a temporary total evaluation due to surgery for service-connected lumbosacral strain status post spinal fusion with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew her appeal in writing.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for migraines is granted, while a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection is granted for pes planus, but not for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee pain, hypertension, GERD, or sleep apnea and generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from February 5, 2025 and granted a TDIU effective October 16, 2023. The rating for IVDS and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with spondylosis remains at 20 percent from December 12, 2022 to April 6, 2024.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is restored to a 40 percent rating, effective November 1, 2024.,TDIU from May 6, 2022 is granted.

The Veteran's thoracic spine endplate spondylosis, degenerative disc space narrowing L5-S1 and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy are not rated higher than the current 20 percent levels.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and records related to his claims for service connection for headaches, asthma, sinusitis, and other conditions.

The appeal concerning the revisions of evaluations for various conditions and special monthly compensation has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic low back condition during or within one year after service. The Board also found that any current low back conditions are not related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial for service connection for various conditions was dismissed due to concurrent elections, and his request for higher-level review was pending when he filed an appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic nephropathy and end stage renal disease with dialysis, diabetic peripheral neuropathies of various extremities, erectile dysfunction, lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, and bilateral knee replacements, do not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct evidence or presumptive exposure to herbicide agents. The Board also found that there was no qualifying exposure to toxic environmental exposures during service.