Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD alone, effective from November 1, 2019. Additionally, the Veteran is now eligible for SMC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) due to additional service-connected disabilities rated at least 60 percent disabling.,The Veteran's TDIU and SMC eligibility are effective from November 1, 2019.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of atrial fibrillation, paralysis of the median nerve (right hand carpal tunnel), and bilateral knee disability. Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with Intervertebral disc syndrome, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. Separate ratings of 10 percent each have been granted for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a TDIU grant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to determine if any of his claimed disabilities are related to service. The issues include neck, low back, hip, knee, ankle, foot, joint pain, sleep condition, lung, gastrointestinal, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are not rated higher than the current levels.

The Veteran's back disability is at least as likely as not due to his service-connected right knee disorder, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant as they do not result in anatomical loss or use of both hands, blindness in both eyes, deep partial thickness burns, full thickness or subdermal burns, or residuals of an inhalation injury.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from August 7, 2012 to February 8, 2025 due to his service-connected disabilities. He was also granted basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits for the same period.

The Veteran's disability rating for multilevel degenerative disease and lumbar stenosis has been restored to 40 percent effective March 1, 2025.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding no evidence of current disability related to service.,The Board remanded the issue of hypertension, requiring further examination and opinion regarding potential association with toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs) during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for low back disability and neck disability, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service connection issues. The AOJ will need to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted an initial 10 percent rating, but his lumbar spine disability remains remanded for further evaluation.

The appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a back disability due to an unaddressed pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's in-service report of back pain during and post deployment is now considered.

The Veteran's service connection claims for vertigo, left shoulder disability, GERD, lower back disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or functional impairment.,The Veteran's service connection claims for erectile dysfunction and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities (right and left) are also denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of various conditions, including cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, facial scar, left foot condition, right foot condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, and right shoulder condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder and a foot disorder due to incomplete or inaccurate factual premises in previous medical opinions. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied as his bilateral hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.