Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's low back disorder and prostate cancer have been granted service connection. The claims for increased ratings of knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions including Athlete's foot, allergic rhinitis, lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, fallen arches, migraines (headaches) condition, and an acquired psychological condition. The Veteran's claims are not currently addressed as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for brucellosis and related secondary conditions must be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the initial rating decisions. The Veteran was exposed to Southwest Asia during his military service, but the medical opinion provided did not adequately address this exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is dismissed. The VA has already granted this benefit in an earlier decision, and the issue is moot.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his service connection claims. The VA will obtain these necessary evaluations in order to provide a proper determination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition and headache condition due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's right knee disability, allergic rhinitis, and lumbosacral strain are being remanded for further development. The right knee disability is already at the maximum possible rating under DC 5259. Separate ratings may be considered if additional symptoms warrant them.

The appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss has been withdrawn and is therefore dismissed. The Veteran's claims for back condition, hypertension, and right knee condition have all been granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the January 2021 rating decision was only a proposal to reduce the Veteran's disability rating, not a final decision. The March 2021 rating decision reduced the rating from 20% to 10%, effective June 1, 2021.

The Veteran's back disorder is granted a rating of 10 percent, and his chronic kidney disease is granted service connection based on being secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left hip disability, and back disability due to an error in fulfilling its duty to assist.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and earlier effective dates for various disabilities, including erectile dysfunction, migraines, hip disorders, lower extremity disorders, and tinnitus.

The decision grants the restoration of service connection for hypertension. The Board has remanded cases regarding low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claim for separate ratings in excess of 20 percent for bilateral lower extremity gunshot wounds was denied, as the evidence did not show three or four scars that were unstable or painful. The claim for service connection for a back disability was also denied due to lack of continuity of symptomatology and no etiological link.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a lower back condition and left thigh muscle atrophy due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's lay statements, service treatment records, and articles are considered in making this determination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, effectively dismissing the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use his upper extremities and left lower extremity without assistive devices, despite having a permanent total rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing back condition existed prior to his entrance into active service and was likely aggravated by activities during service. The evidence does not clearly and unmistakably show that the pre-existing condition was NOT aggravated.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back condition, finding that it is related to his military service.

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