Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to require regular aid and attendance, nor does he have a service-connected disability individually ratable at 100 percent or be factually housebound. Therefore, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for right knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder rotator cuff tear, neck condition, osteoarthritis left shoulder, osteoarthritis right shoulder, hypertension, low back condition, irritable bowel syndrome, and migraines.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral disorder and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding no evidence of these conditions during his military service or post-service. The Board concluded that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of back and neck disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, sleep apnea, sciatic radicular pain of the right lower extremity, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as they have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection and effective dates earlier than March 20, 2020 due to duty to assist errors and a request for a good cause extension of time limits.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection and disability evaluations, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, bilateral shin splints, hypertension (HTN), left hip condition, left knee condition, lumbar spine condition, right hip condition, and right knee condition.

The Board has remanded the claim due to a failure to provide a VA examination and obtain an adequate medical opinion in connection with the service connection issue on appeal. The Veteran's records reflect current diagnoses of back disorders, including pain in the thoracic spine, chronic low back pain, degenerative disc disease, lumbar spondylosis, and thoracic spondylosis.

The Veteran's disability rating for lumbar sprain with degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis was restored from 20 percent to 40 percent effective October 9, 2024.

The Board has determined that the August 2023 VA contract examiner's opinion is inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to address the Veteran's lay statements of onset during service and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for hypertension, bilateral knee, bilateral shoulder, and low back are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40% rating for lumbar spine disability is denied. The RO assigned the March 26, 2020 effective date based on receipt of his TDIU application, which was received in March 26, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle and lumbosacral spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

New and relevant evidence has been received to reconsider the claims for bilateral pes planus, hypertension, PTSD, and right knee disability.,The Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that no claim was received prior to July 15, 2021 and thus the proper effective date is July 15, 2021.,The Veteran also sought an earlier effective date for his left lower extremity radiculopathy, which was similarly denied.

The Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine (claimed as back condition), sleep apnea, and unspecified trauma or stressor related disorder with anxious distress, depressed mood and panic attacks were denied. The Board found that new evidence was not relevant to the claim for chronic fatigue syndrome, and there is no presumptive service connection available for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine (claimed as back condition) due to particulate matter and burn pits exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claim(s) at this time.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, finding that his current low back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's neck disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability, and the initial rating for his right ankle disability is increased to 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings due to a duty to assist error.