Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum rating allowed. The Board also granted service connection for a back disability but denied TDIU based on lack of evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at a 40 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the May 2013 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous instructions. The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain and degenerative arthritis, cervical strain, and LLE radiculopathy cases are still pending for higher evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims for back, left hand, right hand, and right hip disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions. The claim for hepatitis C is also remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its onset.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to failure to comply with previous directives regarding verification of his address and scheduling of VA examinations.

For the period prior to June 3, 2024, a 40 percent evaluation for degenerative disc disease L4-5 (lumbar disability) is granted.,For the entire period on appeal, an evaluation more than 40 percent for a lumbar disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient consideration of the ameliorative effects of medications on his service-connected disabilities, specifically lumbar spine and bilateral knee conditions.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed. The cases of rating in excess of 40 percent for a low back condition, and ratings in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and notification issues. The AOJ must obtain addendum medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's back, hip, and leg disabilities are directly related to his active service or secondary to a previously service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and adequate nexus opinions. The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are now before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for a dislocated right 5th finger. The low back, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right knee conditions are remanded due to insufficient rationale in the previous opinions.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder (degenerative arthritis) and cervical spine disorder (cervical strain), finding that the evidence did not support a link to service. The claim for nosebleeds was also denied as there is no current diagnosis.,Service connection was granted for multiple myeloma prior to August 10, 2022, on a direct basis.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete verification of all periods of active duty for training (ADT) and inactive duty for training (IDT). The AOJ must conduct further research to verify any ADT periods other than those in 1987.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance is granted since May 28, 2015. From September 20, 2017 to November 25, 2020, the Veteran qualifies for a higher level of SMC at the (m) level due to his PTSD rating. As of November 25, 2020, he is eligible for an additional intermediate rate increase to the (m 1/2) level.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated at 10 percent since December 28, 2016. The Board denied an increased rating for this condition from that date to September 9, 2022.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and thus denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The issues of service connection for a back disability (secondary to CFS) and temporary total evaluation for convalescence after surgery are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from January 1, 2010 to December 4, 2018.