Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disability and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion to determine the severity of the Veteran's back disability and provide range of motion results for active and passive motion in weight bearing and nonweight-bearing conditions. The effective date for service connection remains October 10, 2012.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process related to obtaining and considering certain medical records, conducting appropriate examinations, and providing a comprehensive assessment of the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for these issues.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for fibromyalgia and lumbar spine disability ratings, but the Board finds that these claims are denied as they do not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.,For TDIU, the Veteran is granted an effective date of April 1, 2020, based on his eligibility for this benefit.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and an ulcer due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in obtaining Army Reserve service treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for low back arthritis, left knee arthritis, and left hip arthritis. The issues of service connection for sciatic nerve pain, high blood pressure, and right arm skin cancer are remanded due to the failure to obtain VA examinations or opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of his service-connected anemia, lumbar spine arthritis with IVDS, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to active service.

The Veteran's back, diabetes, and nerve disabilities are remanded for further development as the VA has not obtained all relevant records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar disc herniation is related to his service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain due to inadequate examination and failure to consider medication effects.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar strain and arthritis was denied, with the effective date of the grant being February 22, 2019. The appeal for a prior effective date was also denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine with arthritis and strain, as well as radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, both effective September 1, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, effective April 26, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, cervical strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to her now service-connected back disability. The decision is based on credible statements of the Veteran regarding continuous symptoms since service and medical opinions supporting a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's lower back disability is not service-connected.,His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Veteran seeks higher ratings. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.,Effective dates prior to November 9, 2018, have been denied for his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus service connection claims.,Right knee and left knee disabilities are also remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar back condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip strain, right sciatic radiculopathy, lumbar degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, and left hip strain as these conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The case is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of the Veteran's low back disability and sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back strain, including range of motion measurements and any additional functional impairment during flare-ups or with repeated use. A second VA examination is also needed to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to military service, including environmental exposures, and whether it is caused by or worsened by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding an inadequate medical opinion and missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records.