Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral leg numbness. The Veteran's symptoms are found to be related to his active-duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and strain, as well as sciatica in both the right and left lower extremities. The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions are related to an in-service motor vehicle accident injury.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss and remanded the issues of right ankle injury pain, laceration left side of head, cervical spine injury, and lumbar spine injury due to a lack of current disability evidence and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's claims are characterized as new and material, and further examination is required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic back condition, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss because new and relevant evidence had not been received.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities, which render him unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder but denied service connection for an upper back disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, a low back disorder, migraines, and obstructive sleep apnea must be remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ is instructed to schedule the Veteran for new examinations to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine (neck) condition and a low back condition due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but his claim was previously denied.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back condition, and remanded the issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and seizure disorder have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed with respect to the rating decision issued on October 21, 2021.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that his current back condition is related to an in-service injury sustained while serving on active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity and left lower extremity neurological disorders, and hypertension due to potential in-service exposure. The AOJ is required to develop these issues further.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral feet, skeletal arthritis, back condition (other than arthritis), erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and heart condition. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain claim is denied as the evidence does not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, which would warrant a higher rating.,Right shoulder degenerative arthritis and cervical strain claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and depression have been granted. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective from January 21, 2009.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sinusitis, rhinitis, prostate condition, sleep apnea, vertigo, hypertension, back condition, shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, wrist conditions, hip conditions, knee conditions, and ankle/foot conditions. The reasons provided are that the evidence does not support a nexus between these conditions and service or any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinea pedis and lumbosacral strain with L1-L2 spondylosis were denied. The Veteran was previously rated at 30 percent for tinea pedis and 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, but the Board found that these ratings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeals for various service connection claims have been dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.