Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for a sinus disability is dismissed.,Service connection granted for lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of any current disability related to his military service.,Service connection has also been denied for other conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea and voiding dysfunction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and thoracic spine contributed to his death due to an accidental overdose. The decision is in favor of the Appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with L5-S1 disc protrusion and foraminal stenosis, on a secondary basis to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder. The conditions are found to be related to in-service injuries.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that new and relevant evidence supports her claim. The decision gives the benefit of doubt to the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia are remanded due to a duty to assist error. An addendum medical opinion is required to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder (MDD with GAD) are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The effective date for MDD with GAD is currently set at March 21, 2024, but the Board finds that an earlier effective date may be warranted if service connection can be established on a different basis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain clarifying medical opinions regarding the Veteran's knee and low back disabilities, as well as his chondrocostal junction syndrome. The effective date for service connection awards is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations used for rating purposes. The Board requires a retrospective medical opinion on the severity of his cervical spine disability from June 21, 1993, to March 18, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and a failure to obtain an adequate examination or medical opinion. The Veteran is required to be provided with new VA examinations and medical opinions that address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including their relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis, cervical stenosis with hypertrophic arthropathy, and associated radiculopathy, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claims for service connection for lumbar back injury and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foraminal stenosis and degenerative disc disease at C5-6 and C6-7 is granted.,An initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD from January 24, 2017 is granted, subject to the regulations governing the award of monetary benefits. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been dismissed due to improper concurrent elections. The appeal for service connection for a low back disability and gout has been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow any form of substantially gainful employment prior to April 16, 2023. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance was also established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance of another person, granting entitlement to SMC at the (l) rate.

Service connection is granted for a lower back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve as secondary to the lower back condition, and migraines.,The Veteran's service-connected lower back disability includes symptoms of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's back condition, including ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis of the spine, is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatica and right lower extremity sciatica are both found to be secondary to his service-connected back condition.