Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 40 percent for his back disability is denied. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU from February 25, 2016, to August 14, 2022, is also denied. The effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is denied.

The Veteran's tuberculosis, stomach pain/issue, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, back condition, left knee condition, and right ankle condition have all been granted service connection.,An increased rating of 30 percent for left elbow epicondylitis has also been granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is granted, and the left knee and right knee disabilities are denied. The Veteran's sinusitis is granted with a specific effective date.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain, with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding proposed reductions in ratings for right upper extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine conditions due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's back disability, including lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, is found to be related to her active-duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating of 100 percent is not warranted due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.,For his lumbar spine disability, the Veteran was denied a higher rating as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for ankylosis or other severe functional limitations.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for the Veteran's back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a duty to assist error. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has dismissed the claims for left wrist disability, TBI, and lower back condition due to withdrawal by the Veteran's representative. The cervical injury, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy service connection claims are remanded as new evidence supports reopening these claims.

The Veteran's sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and back condition have been granted increased ratings effective from September 26, 2018.

The Veteran was unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, and the Board granted a TDIU for the period from February 20, 2020 to January 21, 2022.

The Veteran's spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if a higher rating is warranted based on worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been granted at a 20 percent level, effective November 17, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to revise a previous rating decision that denied service connection for a low back disability, finding no clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for the listed conditions, and the Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, and lumbar spine disability have been denied. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress), as well as cold weather injury residuals of the hands and knees.,Service connection is not granted for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment, no evidence of continuity of symptomatology, and insufficient medical opinion linking current disability to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left shoulder condition and lumbar spine condition due to incomplete record development. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records from Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and another institution identified as Jacksonville Orthopedic.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and migraine, finding that the Veteran's conditions are etiologically related to his active duty service. The decision is based on the most persuasive evidence weighing in favor of these findings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a thoracolumbar spine condition due to a pre-decisional error in failing to obtain an adequate medical opinion. The case is now pending with instructions to provide a new VA examination and opinion.