Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process regarding service connection for various conditions, and thus remands the cases to allow for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine was dismissed due to concurrent election of review options.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the effects of medication on his conditions.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and the case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions provided in his VA examinations. The claims include tension headaches, a psychiatric disability (diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder), a cervical spine disorder, hand tremors, a lumbosacral spine disorder, a gastrointestinal disorder, and residuals of a hydrocele.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, lower back disability, and tinnitus are all found to have resulted from her military service.,The Veteran withdrew her appeal for residuals of food poisoning at her hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition began during his active service and has continued since then.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability and an increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The lumbar spine disability issue is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine were caused by an injury during a period of active duty for training (ADT) in August 1999, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for lumbar strain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral foot, hip, knee, and back disabilities, as well as a skin disorder, lung disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder, have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions during his period of active service or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in March 2020 and September 2020 are inadequate for rating purposes, as they did not adequately address the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities during the entire rating period on appeal. The Board requests additional retrospective medical opinions to determine the functional loss due to flare-ups and whether the Veteran's pain on motion is equivalent to ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of gastrointestinal disability other than umbilical hernia (including irritable bowel syndrome) and back disability. The Board found new evidence relevant to these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, and the lumbar spine condition is remanded for further examination to determine if it meets or approximates an ankylosis of the spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since October 20, 2017. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on any of the issues raised.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, and low back disabilities are remanded for further review due to a duty-to-assist error in the October 2025 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment starting March 1, 2012. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.