Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis lumbar spine are related to his military service. The claims for GERD and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.,An effective date of March 26, 2023 for the 40 percent evaluation for degenerative disc disease and lumbosacral strain has been granted.,An earlier effective date than April 17, 2024 for the 50 percent evaluation for temporomandibular joint dysfunction is denied.,The Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy evaluations are all denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's migraines are rated at their maximum schedular rating of 50 percent and no extraschedular evaluation has been granted.,The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia is also rated at its maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation. The VA examiner concluded that the current back disability is less likely than not incurred during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and potential exposure to toxic substances during military service.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety, depression, and PTSD with opioid and alcohol use disorders) is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is denied as not service connected.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 100 percent for PTSD is granted, and the issue of service connection for sleep apnea is readjudicated. The TDIU issue is dismissed due to the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD. The issues of service connection for headaches, lower back condition, and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions due to a docketing error and failure to respond within the required time frame.

The Veteran's hair loss and some other conditions are granted service connection, while the right hand disability is denied. The Veteran also has a new rating for his low back condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as multilevel degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy, finding that it is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Board finds that the appropriate effective date is March 8, 2022, as it was within one year of the Intent to File (ITF) received on March 8, 2022.,The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome. The Board finds that the appropriate effective date is March 8, 2021, as it was within one year of the Intent to File (ITF) received on March 8, 2022.,The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 40% rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE). The Board finds that the appropriate effective date is March 8, 2021, as it was within one year of the Intent to File (ITF) received on March 8, 2022.,The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 40% rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE). The Board finds that the appropriate effective date is March 8, 2021, as it was within one year of the Intent to File (ITF) received on March 8, 2022.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as the VA examination results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's COPD is currently rated at zero percent, with PFTs showing an FEV-1 of 91% predicted and FEV-1/FVC of 96%, which does not warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6604.,For lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, the Veteran's current rating is at 20 percent based on forward flexion of 50 degrees and combined range of motion of 125 degrees. The VA examination did not show ankylosis or muscle spasm/severe guarding resulting in abnormal gait or spinal contour.,The Veteran's right groin scar has been rated as zero percent, with no evidence of instability or pain.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted as secondary to her service-connected left hip total replacement and bilateral knee disabilities. The claim for sleep apnea being secondary to her service-connected depressive disorder is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in developing the record and obtaining a medical opinion. The Veteran's back disabilities, including scoliosis, are being reviewed again with an emphasis on verifying his periods of active duty for training (ADT) and inactive duty for training (IDT), as well as obtaining a new medical nexus opinion regarding the etiology of his back disabilities.

The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right hand de Quervain's tenosynovitis.,The effective date for the grant of service connection was set at November 5, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant was denied as he does not meet the criteria for a qualifying total service-connected disability rating or loss of use of lower extremities.

The appeal for service connection for left and right knee disabilities is dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The appeal for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and thoracolumbar spine disability (including lumbosacral and thoracolumbar strain with radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for cervical degenerative disc disease was withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, neck disability, and tinnitus are all found to have begun during active service.,The Veteran's left hip condition is not related to his service-connected knee disabilities. The right hip condition and lumbar spine condition are also not related to his service-connected knee disabilities.,Service connection for a left hip condition, a right hip condition, and a lumbar spine condition is denied.