Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran's claims of hearing loss and lumbar strain due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has restored the Veteran's bilateral sciatica lower extremity ratings from 20% to 20%, effective November 1, 2020. The reduction was improper due to insufficient evidence of material improvement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back condition, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current disability and his in-service lifting of artillery rounds. The evidence did not establish a nexus to service.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA effective dates are being remanded due to the inextricability of these claims with his other service-connected disabilities. The AOJ must first adjudicate his left knee, low back, and RLE radiculopathy claims before addressing his TDIU and DEA earlier effective date claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the requirement of having incurred a serious injury on or after September 11, 2001, for PCAFC eligibility. The appeal is remanded to allow further processing and development of the claim.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a lower back disability has been received. The AOJ should readjudicate the claim.

Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted.,The appeal for service connection for psoriasis (recurrent skin disability) and shell fragment wound residuals (recurrent leg disability) has been dismissed.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was incurred during active-duty service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to a lack of confirmed periods of active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training in the Appellant's record. The appeal was also remanded for further development regarding characterization of the Appellant's service.

The Veteran's claim for a 40% disability rating for lumbosacral strain with myalgia and myositis was granted effective August 21, 2023.,Service connection for left lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was granted effective August 17, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease (back disability) due to the Veteran's credible and consistent lay statements of back pain from in-service injury until post-service diagnosis. The decision is based on a finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's back disability had onset in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various hand, knee, shoulder, and hip disabilities due to inadequate rationale in the prior VA opinion regarding their onset or relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran is required to be notified of upcoming examinations and must cooperate with VA in developing these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and degenerative disc disease, as well as secondary service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, are granted. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and peripheral neuropathy require the regular aid and attendance of another person due to significant functional impairment.

The Veteran's disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral and sciatic nerves), cervical strain, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy have been restored. Effective April 2, 2023, the Veteran is granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision, and no good cause for extension was presented.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to back condition, right knee disability, migraines, and skin condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder, right knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, and common peroneal and superficial peroneal radiculopathies have been granted initial ratings. The Veteran's deep peroneal radiculopathy has also been granted an initial rating.