Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's pain in his back after carrying a rucksack during service is related to his current condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20% prior to April 29, 2025 and at 40% from that date. The Board has ordered a remand due to the AOJ not sending a copy of the medical opinion to the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new examination and opinion to determine if the Veteran's lower back disability is related to service, including his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is being remanded due to inadequate examination regarding functional ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected back condition, bilateral foot disabilities, and hypertension are being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations scheduled in conjunction with these claims. The Board finds it is approximately at least as likely as not that good cause was shown by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted, with some issues receiving initial ratings and others being denied or remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service connection for residuals of an orthognathic surgery with jaw pain is granted. From June 1, 2012 to October 6, 2019, a 20 percent rating for her lower back condition is granted. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied from October 7, 2019.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations scheduled for the Veteran were not substantially complied with, and thus the appeal must be remanded to schedule appropriate VA examinations closer to the Veteran's home.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of her service-connected disabilities. The issues remain on appeal as they have not been finally decided.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability is granted, as his current back disability is related to an in-service fall.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar strain, effective from January 24, 2014. The decision is based on evidence of functional equivalent to unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar and left knee disabilities, as well as an increased rating for PTSD due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions of in-service exposure. The claims are now pending before the RO for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is rated at 20% since July 1, 2022. The lumbar spine disorder was initially granted a 20% rating from September 1, 2022 to October 19, 2022 and then denied any higher ratings thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and low back conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a back condition and neck condition has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder and obesity. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions on secondary aggravation and a need for new examination. The Veteran's conditions are related to her time in active service, but the exact nature of the relationship is unclear.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for her back disability is denied as there is no evidence of increased severity prior to the May 9, 2024 effective date.

The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain relevant private medical records for the cervical spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right hip disability, and left hip disability.,The AOJ failed to undertake appropriate efforts to obtain these records prior to issuance of the December 24, 2019, or January 24, 2020, AOJ decisions.