Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal, and thus the claims for increased ratings are dismissed.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 12, 2024 for the housebound allowance due to a completed claim submitted on that day. The decision also acknowledges the need for aid and attendance or permanent need for regular aid and assistance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship to service and no evidence of onset within one year of separation.

Service connection for lumbar spine disability, urinary incontinence associated with lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, bilateral lower extremity anterior crural nerve radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity ilio-inguinal nerve radiculopathy has been granted.,The effective date for these grants is October 21, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected due to a credible report of in-service assault. The lumbar spine condition and headaches are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection was dismissed as he did not submit a valid Notice of Disagreement or new and material evidence regarding the effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require care or assistance from another person on a regular basis to protect him from hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment, which has been determined based on the evidence of record. As such, the claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is granted.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's back disability rating from 20% to 10% was warranted due to a lack of flare-ups and additional functional loss, thus denying the claim.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sciatica, right lower extremity as secondary to a lumbar condition due to lack of evidence showing an in-service event or disease that may be related.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left-hand injury and a low back condition due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service. The Veteran's right big toe hallux valgus claim remains pending and will be remanded.,The claims of service connection for sinusitis and lumbar strain (claimed as back injury) are also pending and will be remanded due to insufficient rationale in the prior VA opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating as there has been no significant change in his symptoms within the appeal period.

Service connection is granted for cervical spine disability, lumbosacral spine disability, and hypertrophic gastritis.,Obstructive sleep apnea service connection is denied. Service connection for TBI and CFS are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a back disability are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claim of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and potential errors in duty to assist. The Veteran's lower back condition is being reviewed again, as well as his allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's back condition is granted service connection, but his right shoulder, right ankle, and right knee conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating to 10 percent for surgical scars, status post lumbar spine fusion, effective December 8, 2020, was granted. The AOJ did not consider whether the earlier effective date of December 8, 2020, should have been applied.