Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee strain and lumbosacral strain were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, memory loss as residuals of TBI, low back disability (lumbosacral strain), and right ankle disability (right ankle strain) have been granted. The claim for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on several conditions, including migraines, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, and psychiatric disorder, was denied. The rating for migraine headaches remains at 50 percent, the maximum allowed under current criteria. Ratings for other conditions were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, result in loss of use of both feet. The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for loss of bladder control and bowel control due to insufficient evidence at this time.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reconsider the previously denied claims of service connection for back disability, left hip disability, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The claims are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's right foot sprain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine have been granted initial disability ratings. Service connection has also been established for generalized anxiety disorder, a right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a right knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, diagnosed as vertebral fracture, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with chronic thoracic strain, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and back conditions have been denied. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, while the left and right lower extremity radiculopathies are each rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure by the AOJ to obtain private medical records and provide an adequate VA examination. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for a new opinion, as the current one was inadequate.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between the current condition and an in-service injury. The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis was not found to be related to her back pain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, including spina bifida, arthritis, and degenerative disc disease. The decision also denied his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, personality disorder).

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability is granted, effective October 1, 2025. The claim for a higher rating than 40 percent and service connection for IBS secondary to the lumbar spine disability are also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment from January 1, 2017 to May 16, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an eye disability, including macular degeneration, pseudophakia, and ocular hypertension. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's contention that his disabilities had their onset during or were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an additional VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's back disability and sciatic nerve radiculopathy were granted a 40 percent rating, but not higher, with the exception of right and left lower extremity radiculopathy which was also granted a 40 percent rating. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that it is caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 8, 2013 for the award of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's back and left shoulder disabilities have precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since that date.

The Veteran's lumbar myofascial strain is rated at 40 percent since July 10, 2009. Effective January 4, 2021, the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve is rated at 20 percent; effective December 14, 2016, the left sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent; and effective March 28, 2021, the right femoral nerve radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's left femoral nerve radiculopathy remains at a 30 percent rating throughout the period on appeal.