Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims have been remanded due to the need for further development.,No new or material evidence has been submitted, and the issues remain unresolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding no evidence to support a nexus between in-service complaints and current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, back disability, and various peripheral neuropathies, render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to perform daily activities independently. The Board found that the evidence was in balance, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, granting SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

Service connection for essential tremors of the hands is granted.,Service connection for a back disability, post traumatic right hamstring disability, and dermatosis are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, neck disability, left elbow disability, and left shoulder disability on a direct basis. The reasonable doubt in each case has been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal for left ear hearing loss is dismissed. The appeals for thoracolumbar strain and undiagnosed respiratory illness are remanded.

The Veteran's right elbow lateral epicondylitis, chronic rhinitis, right knee strain (limitation of flexion), painful scar from hernia repair, hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity hypoesthesia and paresthesia, left lower extremity hypoesthesia and paresthesia, left knee disorder, and migraine including variants are all granted. The Veteran's service connection for these conditions is established based on direct evidence or presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder tendonitis, cervical strain, chondromalacia patella right knee, lumbar degenerative disc disease with strain, episodes of locking left knee, left knee degenerative joint disease with patellofemoral pain syndrome and chondromalacia patella status-post surgery, and limitation of extension left knee, have rendered the Veteran unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 15, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to June 5, 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for a groin condition. The remaining issues of service connection for left hip contusion, left foot disability, low back injury, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's recurrent lumbosacral spine disability is related to his service-connected right knee and left knee disabilities. The VA will need to schedule a new examination to determine this relationship.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, including degenerative disc disease, arthritis, vertebral fracture, and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, is not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and missing private treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a lumbar spine disability, which he claims was caused by military activities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to symptoms consistent with the current 70 percent evaluation. The lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board has determined this to be appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 22, 2020 was denied as the evidence did not show he became unemployable within a year of his May 1, 2020 application. The Board found that the Veteran already had a 100% disability rating from January 22, 2020 and thus TDIU prior to this date was moot.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right eye disabilities have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for low back disability (other than scoliosis) and right and left knee conditions.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance at the 38 U.S.C. � 1114(n 1/2) rate, but no higher, prior to January 25, 2019 and from March 1, 2019, due to his service-connected depressive disorder alone causing him to be in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded several issues for further evaluation, including right ankle traumatic arthritis, left foot fibromatosis, both right and left foot hypertrophic scars, migraine headaches, lumbosacral strain, and chronic cough.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinion and a failure to obtain Social Security Administration records.