Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating. The claims for increased ratings of lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is required to determine if any current thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, scoliosis, and lumbar radiculopathy, are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service connection claims and potential in-service toxic exposures.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination for rating purposes, and will need a new examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PFB is granted. The appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is dismissed due to procedural issues, and the issue remains pending in VA's legacy system.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), and residuals of zygomatic arch fracture are being remanded due to errors in obtaining relevant VA treatment records and inadequate medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for a neck disability and back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records indicate he experienced joint pain, back pain, and muscle ache during deployment. Further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, granting his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no new evidence to reopen the previously denied GERD and low back disability claims, but granted a higher rating of 10% for right knee PFPS from July 26, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease rendered him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment from May 1, 2019. The Board finds that the medical evidence of record weighs in favor of the Veteran being unemployable due to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause, and the evidence did not show an increase in severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic and femoral nerves), and back scar status post laminectomy are all granted effective December 22, 2013.,Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is also granted effective December 22, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and examination regarding his back condition, right shoulder condition, right ankle condition, migraine headaches, and urinary frequency. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination. The issue at hand is whether the Veteran should receive an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his major depressive disorder associated with lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his claim of service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis has been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative have withdrawn their appeal.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was incurred during service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder, hip, back, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are all found to be related to service. The Veteran's hypertension is also found to be related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, lower back disability, and OSA. The Board found that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility to enroll in the PCAFC program was remanded due to errors in notification and lack of a clinical determination as to whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate. The AOJ must obtain medical opinions, provide proper notice, and address these issues before making a final decision.