Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from January 1, 2017 to October 27, 2017 due to service-connected disabilities. The temporary total evaluation for convalescence was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain with osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, and knee cartilage restoration surgery, lumbar strain, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, right shoulder strain, and left shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis.,An effective date of December 6, 2016 has been granted for the award of service connection for right knee instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The issues include shoulder, knee, and TDIU claims.

The claim for service connection of the back condition is denied. The claim for service connection of the lung condition and right elbow olecranon bursitis (right elbow condition) are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back injury with degenerative changes at L5, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service injury and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his low back disability was denied, and the initial rating of 10% for his low back disability was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy right and left lower extremities associated with low back strain, as well as an increased rating for low back strain, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for a TDIU prior to October 28, 2014 and temporary total evaluation for thoracolumbar spine disability were denied. Claims for evaluations in excess of the current ratings for bowel disability (from February 4, 2015 to May 18, 2024) and bladder dysfunction (from February 4, 2015 to April 18, 2024) are also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her knee conditions and TDIU have been dismissed as she has withdrawn them. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities from May 10, 2010.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and hypertension disorders. The Board dismissed the appeals as a result.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS and cervical spine strain with IVDS are currently rated at 40 percent and 30 percent, respectively. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for these conditions.,The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy has been rated at 20 percent prior to April 21, 2021, and 30 percent from April 21, 2021 to November 4, 2022. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for this condition.

Prior to September 17, 2020, the Veteran's lumbar disc disease with IVDS did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,From September 17, 2020, to August 9, 2021, the Veteran's lumbar disc disease with IVDS met the criteria for a disability rating of 20 percent.,From August 9, 2021, to April 18, 2022, the Veteran's lumbar disc disease with IVDS did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, neck, left hip, and left knee disabilities due to procedural issues and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU grant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, as well as his lumbar spine disorder. The Board found the evidence in balance regarding whether these conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability. The claim will be reviewed again with a new examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for low back, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The issues are now before the RO again.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at a higher initial rating of 70 percent, effective from September 30, 2015 to May 10, 2023. The lumbar spine disability and left knee disability are denied for the respective periods, while the left foot disability receives a higher initial rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, finding that there was no VA treatment or referral shown and concluding that the claim must be denied as a matter of law.