Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only due to his remaining functional use of his feet.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that there may be a nexus between the Veteran's current low back pain and his active service, but further examination is needed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with strain is granted as it meets the criteria for direct service connection due to continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted. The appeal of the denial of PTSD service connection is dismissed. The Veteran's cervical spine disability claim is remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 15, 2022 for a 20% evaluation for the Veteran's lumbar spine tumor related to lumbosacral strain. The claim was continuously pursued and supported by evidence dating back to December 14, 2020.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, headaches (migraines), varicose veins, and right calf pain need further development due to a lack of adequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain but remanded the issue of chronic sinus condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral hip strains as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle sprain.

The Veteran's lower back disability is currently rated at 40% and denied for an increased evaluation.,The effective date for the current rating of 40% for the lower back disability remains November 4, 2010.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted a 20% initial evaluation and an earlier effective date of January 24, 2020.,Left knee instability was reduced from 10% to 0% on April 1, 2016, but the reduction is being reversed due to improper consideration of functional impairment.,The Veteran's left knee disability remains at a 10% evaluation with no earlier effective date change.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck condition and right knee condition, and awarded a disability rating of 20 percent for thoracolumbar strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability and a lumbar spine disability, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been granted. Service connection is established for PFB, but not earlier than February 7, 2022. GERD remains rated at 10 percent. The other conditions remain denied.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not establish a basis for such a higher rating. The current 20 percent rating was maintained.

The Veteran's left wrist condition is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,Service connection has been granted for back, left elbow, and left shoulder conditions as secondary to his service-connected fracture of the left humerus.

The Board has remanded the case due to a missed VA examination for thoracolumbar spine issues, and will require a new examination to determine if any such condition is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for higher SMC based on loss of use of both feet and need for regular aid and attendance was denied as the Board found that assigning separate ratings for these conditions would violate pyramiding rules due to overlapping service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder disability, lumbosacral strain, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests to appeal the May 12, 2023 rating decision that granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for lumbar spine DDD, left heel injury, and right knee injury. The reasons given were that the appeals were not timely filed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, back, neck, and extremity radiculopathy, were denied. The effective dates of any subsequent grants of service connection are not earlier than October 24, 2006.