Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher rating for his service-connected low back strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS. The Board has determined that the VA examination did not address whether the Veteran's flare-ups amount to functional ankylosis, which could affect the rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, with muscle spasms; right elbow pain; and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy/ sciatica as secondary to the back disability have all been granted.

The Veteran's asthma disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, and an increased rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.,The Veteran's left hand fifth finger disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and a compensable rating is denied.,Service connection for bilateral knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for cervical strain and back pain were dismissed due to concurrent elections with other claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left leg, and right leg conditions due to insufficient information in the record regarding these claims.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of April 16, 2021 for the grants of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her back and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations that did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication on her service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is at least an equal balance of evidence to support this conclusion.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the Veteran's claims of neck condition, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, lumbar strain, and GERD. As such, these claims are remanded to allow for readjudication.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and congenital levoscoliosis of the lumbar spine was denied. The case is remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Veteran is already receiving TDIU benefits from November 17, 2015. The Board finds that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to March 21, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, lumbar, and left foot degenerative arthritis conditions as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of right foot injury, minimal degenerative changes, and achilles tendonitis.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis was denied for the period from July 17, 2007 to April 3, 2017.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for an increased evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, left hand disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error regarding private treatment records from M. Primary Care and H.O.R.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the femoral nerve.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine prior to April 30, 2024, remains denied. A 10 percent rating is granted for right lower extremity (femoral nerve) radiculopathy from April 30, 2024.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for PTSD, TDIU and DEA benefits was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent for PTSD with TBI.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including left shoulder, hip, back, lower extremity neurological, and migraine headache disorders are granted. The case is remanded to obtain additional development regarding the Veteran's PTSD claim.