Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral flatfoot, moderate degenerative disc disease at L1-L2 and lower lumbar spine facet joint osteoarthritis, tinnitus, unspecified anxiety disorder, bronchial asthma, sinusitis, and sleep apnea, do not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's reports of back pain and strain during service, as well as his current symptoms. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, instability of the right and left knees, and bilateral pes planus have been granted increased ratings.,Issues regarding limitation of motion with arthritis of the right and left knees, as well as a rating for bilateral pes planus prior to December 7, 2021, were withdrawn from appeal.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to the assigned effective dates have been denied as there is no legal basis to award an earlier effective date.,The Veteran's claim for limitation of extension of the left knee has also been denied, with the earliest possible effective date being July 7, 2022.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to errors in obtaining relevant records and conducting a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, TDIU, and SMC based on need for aid and attendance are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether his falls and resulting disabilities were caused by VA treatment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records from the Veteran's Air Force Reserve and Wisconsin Air National Guard duty.

The Veteran's back condition is now rated at 40 percent, effective September 29, 2020.,Service connection has been granted for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for a back disability due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is remanded due to concerns about the adequacy of a previous examination report, which did not include measurements using a goniometer.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including left knee, TBI residuals, right ankle and foot disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spinal stenosis has been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis.,Her claim for an initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis was also denied due to lack of sufficient evidence showing the required symptoms.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and pseudofolliculitis, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during his military service and have continued since.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, and depression due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's TDIU was based on multiple service-connected disabilities, and he does not meet the legal criteria for payment of compensation at the housebound rate under the regulations due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service. Service connection for a cervical spine disability was previously granted in August 2004 and is no longer on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for her lumbar spine disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence submitted when the claim is readjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbosacral strain, considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Veteran's service-connected lower back disability and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each, subject to regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.