Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address the Veteran's use of medication and its impact on his disability ratings.,The effective dates for service connection remain July 25, 2012.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's appeal seeking revision or reversal of the August 2011 decision on service connection for shin splints of the right leg is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal seeking revision or reversal of the August 2011 decision on service connection for shin splints of the left leg is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals seeking revision or reversal of the August 2011 decisions on service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), sinusitis, a right shoulder condition, and a back condition are remanded.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, foot, and back disorders. The underlying merits of these claims must be addressed by the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and a lumbosacral strain, is at least as likely as not related to his active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain, low back disability, bilateral upper extremity peripheral nerve disability, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral nerve disability. The conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error that occurred prior to the decision on appeal. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain, osseous & subluxation stenosis of lumbar foramina, is granted with a rating of 40 percent effective February 9, 2024. The other service connection claims are also granted.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee conditions due to a lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability should be remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of PTSD due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The claim of increased rating for lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran requested a withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip condition, lumbosacral condition (lower back pain), and cervical strain due to potential duty-related injuries or aggravation of existing conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip condition, lumbosacral condition (lower back pain), and cervical strain due to potential duty-related injuries or aggravation of existing conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for eligibility in the PCAFC program due to insufficient evidence showing a need for personal care services, and thus denied the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, left knee disability, and right knee disability. Service connection for a skin condition is remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for thoracolumbar spine strain is denied, with a current rating of 20 percent. The claim for higher staged ratings for cervical spine spondylosis remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of lower back condition, right lower extremity S-1 radiculopathy sciatica, and left lower extremity S-1 radiculopathy sciatica. The decision found that there was no nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, and the case is inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeals for increased rating of PTSD, service connection for right elbow disability, muscle/joint pain, and chronic fatigue have been dismissed due to his withdrawal at a January 2025 Board hearing.,Service connection has been granted for IBS on a presumptive basis as a qualifying chronic disability under the Gulf War category.