Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has restored service connection for a lumbar spine disability, effective December 1, 2022. The original grant of service connection was not found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The request to readjudicate the left knee and right testicle disability claims is granted, but the low back disability claim remains denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for thoracolumbar degenerative changes was granted, with a uniform 40 percent rating effective December 10, 2021. The VA initially scheduled the Veteran for a back conditions examination in March 2022 to determine his disability level and assigned him this rating based on his limited range of motion.

The Board has determined that the September 2020 rating decision granting service connection for the Veteran's back condition and assigning a 10 percent disability rating is inadequate due to an incomplete medical examination report. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA medical examination to assess the nature and severity of the Veteran's back condition, with particular attention to estimated range of motion during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The issues of service connection are being addressed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine disorder status post spinal fusion and laminectomy, finding that his pre-existing low back injury was aggravated during a period of INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings for his service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that there were no reliable test results to support a higher rating for the bilateral hearing loss disability, and the Veteran's migraine headaches did not meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for anxiety, a back disability, depression, fatigue, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The Board dismissed the appeal as withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral eye disability, a left knee disability, and a right wrist disability have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal of these issues prior to the promulgation of a decision.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, a left shoulder disability, and a right knee disability are being remanded as there is a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the July 24, 2023 rating decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of diabetes mellitus type II due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The claims for back disability, right foot neuropathy, and left foot neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for right knee scar is denied, and his residuals of lumbar strain are granted a 20 percent disability rating effective June 10, 2019.

The Board has denied service connection for Bell's palsy and remanded the low back, radiculopathy, elbow, knee, and pes planus claims due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU due to procedural errors in the duty to assist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence after a prior denial. The Board finds that VA examinations and medical opinions are necessary to properly determine entitlement to service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is as likely as not caused by parachute jumps during his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of sarcoidosis, cervical strain, and eczema of the bilateral hands is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for neck disability is remanded due to inadequate examination. The Veteran's claim for eczema of the bilateral hands is also remanded as there are questions regarding systemic therapy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the failure to notify the Veteran of records not received from Dr. Anastasia and Monmouth Medical Center.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of a low back disability due to new and relevant evidence received, but it is unclear if the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for another VA examination to assess whether any thoracolumbar spine disability is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by service, including thoracic facet syndrome documented in a January 1990 STR. The examiner must reconcile this with the absence of findings or complaints in a March 1995 Reserve examination and report.