Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding kidney disease, lumbar spine disorder, and headaches.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, anemia, left shoulder and elbow disorders, leukocytopenia, low back disorder, right knee disorder, cardiovascular disorder, and headaches. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of May 28, 2009, and no earlier, for the award of a 40 percent rating for back disability is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for residual laminectomy scar associated with his back disability is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating of his service-connected lumbosacral strain was denied as the evidence did not show functional limitation to 30 degrees or less, and no IVDS was found. The current 20 percent rating is upheld.

The claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and initial increased rating for the lumbar spine disability have been withdrawn.,The claim for service connection for bilateral athlete's foot has been denied. The Veteran is being remanded for further examination to determine if he has a current right ankle disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of lumbar spine, left knee, and both ankle conditions due to an impermissible concurrent election.

Service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted.,Readjudication of the claims for service connection for a right wrist scar and a right wrist muscle injury are warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and nerve disability. The claims are based on in-service injuries and the Veteran's current diagnoses.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and hypertension is denied.,PTSD increased rating claim is denied. A compensable rating for ED is also denied.,Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and right knee disability are not granted a higher rating than 10 percent.,Left knee disability does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is found to be related to her active-duty service.,The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the left foot bunionectomy residuals.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and arthritis of the cervical spine, attributing these conditions to a motor vehicle accident in 1977 during active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected back disability is being remanded due to the VA's failure to consider pre-decisional treatment records in their decision. The AOJ will need to associate these records with the claims file before making a determination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of his lumbar spine, left shoulder disability, and left shoulder AC dislocation disability. The effective date remains July 7, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed back and neck conditions are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA will schedule new examinations to provide a proper opinion on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals regarding effective dates and increased ratings for PTSD with depression and anxiety disorder, as well as DDD lumbar spine, have been withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder and right ankle disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis to tinnitus, and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain with scoliosis, left knee condition (osteoarthritis), and right knee condition (osteoarthritis) as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or aggravation.,Service connection was also not granted on a secondary basis due to lack of established service connection for lumbosacral strain with scoliosis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of erectile dysfunction and denied service connection for this condition. The thoracolumbar spine condition claim is being remanded due to incomplete development.