Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left total knee replacement.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of his records and failure to provide adequate notice and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to her in-service injury during basic training.,Service connection was also granted for right hip pain with inflammatory conditions, as the evidence supports a link between the Veteran's active duty service and her current condition.

The Board has determined that there are insufficient positive evidence in support of the Veteran's claims for service connection, and therefore, remands are warranted to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for special home adaptation and specially adapted housing should be remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The VA needs to schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess his service-connected back and right shoulder disabilities, which are relevant to his eligibility for these benefits.

The Veteran's appeal of the proposed reduction for lumbar DDD, postoperative with IVDS, and radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar DDD, postoperative with IVDS, is denied. An effective date of December 1, 2019, has been granted for his award of a 40 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral spine, with intervertebral disc disease, post lumbar fusion is rated at a 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals concerning the issues of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, chronic kidney disease, cervical spine disability, sinusitis, and ulcer disability.

The Board denied service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's current disabilities are not considered related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's back disability. The decision also denied entitlement to a total disability rating on the basis of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee strain, lumbosacral strain, and migraine and tension headaches are found to have had their onset during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes cavus was aggravated by active duty service. Service connection is granted for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, and post traumatic osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, are granted with effective dates starting from August 12, 2022.

The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal for an increased rating of her lumbar spine disability, leading the Board to dismiss the case.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and strain, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with strain, and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy on a direct basis.,Service connection is also granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with strain.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, gastrointestinal condition, gynecomastia, kidney lesion, and liver cirrhosis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is remanded for further development.

Service connection is denied for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Restless Leg Syndrome of the Left Lower Extremity, and Respiratory Disability (claimed as Respiratory Insufficiency).,Service connection is granted for a skin disability (claimed as Dermatitis and Eczema).

The Veteran's left hip strain and lumbosacral strain are rated at specific levels, with the left hip strain receiving a maximum rating of 40 percent. The lumbosacral strain is also rated at 20 percent for the period from June 1, 2023 to March 1, 2024.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, and will require a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's lower back condition is related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

Service connection is granted for kidney disease. Service connection is denied for lumbar radiculopathy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and colon polyps.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic), and hypothyroidism. The initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.