Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a lower back disability, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for total disability individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied as the record does not show that he was entitled to TDIU prior to April 11, 2024.

The Veteran's ratings for GERD and lumbosacral strain were restored to their original levels due to improper reduction.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, left and right leg shin splints, and lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is denied as it clearly existed prior to service and was not aggravated by any in-service injury.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and disc disease with left convex scoliosis, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis and disc disease. The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions are related to active military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and left knee disabilities are granted, but her left wrist disability is denied. The Board finds a remand necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error before adjudicating the service connection for left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is secondary to his service-connected multiple sclerosis. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether the lumbar spine disability was aggravated by MS.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for lower back disability and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration.

The Board has denied service connection for left hip, right hip, and low back disabilities. The claim of secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding the severity of his conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board requires new VA examinations addressing the severity of these conditions without considering the ameliorative effects of medications.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran did not have a disease or injury related to his back during active duty and that any current condition is more likely due to an ATV accident.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis of the spine, spinal fusion, spinal stenosis, and DDD including as secondary to his service-connected pes planus. The decision is based on a finding that the Veteran's current back disability is 'but-for' caused by his service-connected foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability and anxiety disorder, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of October 10, 2007.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure of VA to provide a VA examination, which is necessary to address his contentions regarding his back, neck, and dysautonomia disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right hip disability has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim. The Board has also remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for low back and left hip disabilities.

The Veteran's tuberculosis is denied as there is no evidence of a current active disease and the Board finds that it is not related to service.,The Veteran's back disorder, including severe scoliosis, IVDS with DDD, spinal stenosis, and fusion, is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset during service or whether it was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back disability due to insufficient evidence in the original decision. The Veteran's lay statements and medical records are considered, but an additional examination is required.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 30, 2022 for the Veteran's entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is each rated at 40 percent. The Board denied all claims for higher ratings.