Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder, left parotidectomy residuals, head scar, OSA, back disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder have been granted service connection. The Veteran's TBI, jaw disorder, hearing loss, IBS, right elbow disorder, and left ankle disorder have not been granted service connection.

The Veteran's left shoulder impingement syndrome with osteoarthritis and lumbosacral strain with mild degenerative disc disease have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's chronic pain syndrome is granted as secondary to her service-connected osteoarthritis with intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claims for residuals of meningitis, right foot disability, and left foot disability are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to August 11, 2016, and in excess of 20 percent on and after August 11, 2016, for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative arthritis, and strain residuals; ratings in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to August 11, 2016 is also remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability did not have its onset in service, was not shown to be chronic during service or within a presumptive period post-service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms. The VA examiner opined that the current low back disorder is unlikely related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied as her disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for another medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The initial disability rating of 10 percent was maintained for the lumbosacral strain, and a higher rating of 20 percent was granted from January 30, 2024 onwards.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain was granted a disability rating of 20 percent effective August 18, 2020. The Board found that the evidence supported this rating based on the range of motion measurements and consideration of flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the claims for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, valvular heart disease, hypertension, left wrist condition, right wrist condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, neck condition, right arm condition, left arm condition, sleep apnea, left knee condition, right knee condition, back condition, bowel condition, headaches, and bilateral flatfoot for further adjudication due to a failure to provide notice of the right to a hearing as provided by 38 C.F.R. �� 3.103(b)(1) and (d)(1).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 14, 2005 for SMC based on housebound status is granted. The decision finds that the Veteran has a single disability rated as total (left knee disability via extraschedular TDIU from February 25, 2005) and separate service-connected disabilities ratable at a combined 60 percent disabling (acquired psychiatric disorder at 70 percent from July 14, 2005), as required by the law.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and granted increased ratings of 30 percent for the right knee disability and 40 percent for the back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 6, 2022. Therefore, the claim for TDIU prior to that date is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right thumb degenerative arthritis and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The claim for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy/neuropathy is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a back injury, calluses of the feet, and a chronic skin disease. The Veteran's claim for tuberculosis was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy is caused by his service-connected lumbosacral strain, granting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica must be remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for TDIU as it was previously granted. The claims of increased ratings for LLE radiculopathy, RLE radiculopathy, and IBS are denied. The claim for a separate rating for RLE radiculopathy of the internal popliteal nerve is remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendinitis is granted service connection and assigned a non-compensable rating.,The Veteran's tinea cruris is denied an increased rating as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for service connection of cervical spine DDD and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy. The Board finds that the claims are not eligible for an earlier effective date due to lack of timely filing or receipt of new and material evidence.,The effective date for service connection is determined based on when entitlement arose, which in this case is March 6, 2009.