Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and traumatic brain injury due to lack of evidence supporting current diagnoses or a link between service and these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral shoulder disability. Service connection was granted for ocular and periorbital pain (both eyes).

The Veteran's service connection claims for generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), liver condition, joint pain, intestinal condition, kidney condition, sleep apnea, vein condition, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and lumbar spine disability have all been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine was dismissed as it was an impermissible concurrent election.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis in the cervical spine and left eye condition were also dismissed due to being concurrent elections.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left ankle, lumbosacral spine, and right rib disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between her current conditions and her military service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all pending appeals due to his current 100% P&T status effective June 20, 2024.

The Veteran's thoracic spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease are granted as service connected. The claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, right elbow, and left elbow disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased rating and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been granted an initial rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the June 2023 decision. A separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for his back condition is granted. The right foot condition claim is remanded due to a lack of VA examination and relevant medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a bilateral foot disorder and back disorder due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is not rated higher than 20 percent due to limited range of motion.,The Veteran's hypertension does not warrant a compensable rating as it has never met the criteria for such.

The Veteran's kidney disability, PTSD, MDD, arthritis of the left and right hips, erectile dysfunction, Parkinson's disease, gout, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability are all being remanded for further evaluation.,Specifically, the claims for a kidney disability, psychiatric disabilities (PTSD and MDD), arthritis of the hips, erectile dysfunction, Parkinson's disease, gout, ankle disabilities, knee disabilities, and low back disability will be reviewed to determine if service connection can be established.

The Veteran's application for PCAFC eligibility was denied due to the CEAT finding that he did not require personal care services based on his service-connected conditions. The Board has ordered remand to obtain an adequate medical opinion from the CEAT regarding the Veteran's need for personal care and supervision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, panic disorder, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The rating for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder has been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in his VA examinations. The lumbar spine disorder claim is being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and continuity of the Veteran's back disorder, as well as the relationship between his service and any current condition. The VA will need to obtain treatment records from emergency room visits for back pain beginning in 1997 and provide an addendum opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) as he was attending school full time and his service-connected conditions did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of cervical spine and low back disabilities due to an improper concurrent election in the modernized appeal system.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and incomplete toxic exposure records. The Board will consider the evidence of record at the time of the May 2025 rating decision.