Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a lumbar spine condition, finding that these conditions are causally related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a back disability due to inadequate medical opinions in his favor. The AOJ is required to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the etiology of these disabilities, specifically whether they are related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease and left knee strain have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence or clarification.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was dismissed. The Board granted the Veteran a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected PTSD and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with disc herniation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the May 1992 rating decisions that denied service connection for low back and bilateral knee conditions. The RO is instructed to adjudicate these claims on the basis of CUE in the first instance.

The Veteran's depressive disorder due to another medical condition with mixed features is granted a rating of 50 percent.,Service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder are all granted.,Service connection for pain of lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran's assertions regarding his in-service injuries are supported, but the VA examiners did not adequately address these points.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and left hip disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service or any service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence did not show it was incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim. The Board also determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability was not clearly and unmistakably pre-existing his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, as they limit his ability to perform certain physical tasks and affect his communication abilities.

The Veteran is granted TDIU based on the service-connected lumbar spine disability alone for the period beginning May 14, 2013.,SMC at the housebound rate is also granted for the same period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations in previous decisions. The claims will be returned to the RO for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability was denied because he failed to report for a necessary VA examination without showing good cause.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information and needs additional medical opinions regarding functional ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, back, neck, and memory loss disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The appeal for service connection for low back disorder and left lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed as moot. The appeals for service connection for piriformis syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disorder (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), and limitation of motion of the right hand fourth metacarpal are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board will consider whether there is a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for bipolar disorder with cannabis use disorder is granted, effective October 24, 2021. The effective date for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than service-connected bipolar disorder with cannabis use disorder and a headache disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to inextricable interdependence.