Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board denied service connection for low back pain and right shoulder arthritis pain, finding no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within one year after service that would qualify for presumptive service connection. The Veteran's current low back pain is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent, effective August 13, 2024. Other claims for increased ratings and TDIU are also granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were caused by his exposure to herbicides in service. The cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability, including refractive errors and age-related cataracts, is not service-connected as it does not meet the criteria for a disease or injury under VA compensation laws. The Veteran's current eye conditions are attributed to his pre-service refractive errors.,Service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was denied because there is no evidence of chronicity within one year post-service and the condition did not manifest in service.

The Veteran's cervical spine (neck) disability, left shoulder disability, and migraines are granted service connection. The thoracolumbar and bilateral elbow disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided in August 2018 are insufficient and remands these claims for additional evaluations to determine if the Veteran's claimed disabilities were incurred during his active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the inability to locate her complete service treatment records and failure to obtain relevant federal court records. The AOJ is instructed to request these records and associate them with the claims file.

The Board denied service connection for right and left upper extremity nerve conditions, low back disability, right-side sciatica, and left-side sciatica. The Veteran's current low back disability is found to be related to his in-service injury, with a continuity of symptomatology since then.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's service-connected cervical strain and bilateral ankle tendonitis are alleged to be related to his current back and knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, unspecified headaches, and OSA. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and have continued since.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disorder, cyst scars, and left foot corn rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 24, 2009. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to the ameliorative effects of medication.,The Veteran's lumbar spine IVDS status post compression fracture, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 40 percent. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms.,Service connection has been granted for abnormal renal function, erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, prostate condition, and hernia due to exposure to toxic risk exposure activities (TERA) in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected lumbar strain and degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, lumbar strain, and right shoulder strain have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 17, 2018. TDIU is granted effective from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to service, and his low back and right knee conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right elbow disorder was denied. The rating claims for cervical strain, thoracolumbar back strain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right ankle inversion laxity with instability were all denied. Migraine headaches did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including sleep apnea, brain tumor, kidney failure, back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and right shoulder disorder. The Veteran did not provide good cause for failing to attend a VA examination related to his hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's spinal canal stenosis, lumbar region, severe, lumbosacral spondylosis with radiculopathy is granted as service connected.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and cervical strain, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.