Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has decided to remand the case due to procedural errors and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disability did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is partially granted with a 30 percent rating for headaches effective January 2, 2024. The VA has not provided adequate assistance in obtaining relevant records and the Veteran's GERD and lumbosacral strain claims are remanded due to incomplete examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, sleep apnea, a left knee disability, and an upper back disability have been denied. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the nature and likely cause of these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, cervical spine, and skin conditions.,Reasoning: The evidence supports that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of his lumbar spine, right hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities as of December 2024 VA examinations.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the claims of service connection for a low back disability and right ankle disability. As such, these claims are being remanded to allow for further review by the AOJ.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal of his claim for an increased disability evaluation for lumbar disc bulging with chronic strain as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, finding that his current disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis and tinnitus are granted. The appeals concerning sinus condition, depression, insomnia, fatigue, joint pain, headaches, left knee strain, right knee strain, right shin condition, and acid reflux are dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea and lumbosacral strain have been granted. The Board found that the current disabilities began during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and inattention to the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms. The issues are now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's initial rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve (right sciatica) was granted at a 20 percent level, while her back disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine condition, finding that the current diagnosis of degenerative disc disease was not caused or aggravated by the April 2010 ACDUTRA period. The evidence did not show any worsening during this period and the VA examiner concluded that the appellant's condition did not worsen beyond normal progression.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his thoracolumbar scoliosis with degenerative changes prior to January 25, 2017 was denied by the Board. The evidence did not show ankylosis or functional equivalent of ankylosis during this period.

The Board denied service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and a back disorder (thoracic strain) as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and sleep disturbance have been dismissed due to untimely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) filings.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines has been granted, as it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim of service connection for a low back condition. The case is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine disability (secondary to right knee disability), heart condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to duty-to-assist errors in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) and need for regular aid and attendance of another person is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities, as well as the need for private medical records.