Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 28, 2012, finding that there was not sufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and a back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the claimed back disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, back disability, and bilateral hand disabilities are being remanded to the AOJ for further review.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to SMC at the housebound rate from August 1, 2019, to October 7, 2021, based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA opinion. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's left hip and left knee disabilities is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its November 2025 directives to provide adequate opinions for the service connection claims. The claims are being remanded for further development and opinion.

Your claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development. The AOJ will consider all evidence, including recent VA treatment records, and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case if necessary.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy as proximately due to this condition, migraine headaches, dizziness, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a skin disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his low back disability, as the previous examination was inadequate.

Service connection for low back disability is granted. An effective date prior to August 20, 2024, for the award of an increased 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Entitlement to initial compensable rating for COPD is denied. Service connection for OSA is remanded.,The Veteran's low back disability had its onset during active duty and was granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder and degenerative disc disease prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment from July 8, 2020 to December 9, 2021.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as it meets the criteria for direct service connection due to an in-service injury during combat operations.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran was granted an initial 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).,Service connection for IBS was established but the Veteran is seeking a higher rating.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy, which has rendered him in need of regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis, cervical spine DDD with cervical radiculopathy, and bilateral upper extremity CTS. Service connection is denied for a right thumb condition, right shoulder strain with osteoarthritis, and left and right upper extremity neurological disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not result in his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 19, 2019. The Board denied an earlier effective date for the TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and entitlement to a TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues.,Specifically, the Veteran's psychiatric disability is being evaluated again by an appropriate clinician.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection claims for left hip sprain, lower back strain (also claimed as lumbosacral strain), right shin splints, and tinnitus was dismissed because the Veteran did not provide a clear intention to appeal these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for dizziness and asthma, finding that the conditions are related to in-service events. Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease.