Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claim for a low back disorder due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service duties requiring lifting. The case will be reviewed with an appropriate VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance prior to September 14, 2020, has been dismissed due to his opt-in into the modernized review system. The appeal in the Legacy system is therefore withdrawn.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of increased disability ratings and TDIU, including consideration of new private medical records.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to his valid opt-in of specific issues into the modernized review system.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, right wrist, right hip, left hip, and left knee disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for back disability, headaches, and sleep apnea require additional medical examination to determine their etiology. The cases are being remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection on six conditions due to the September 2025 Notice of Disagreement being docketed in error and not addressing new issues.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, PTSD, low back condition, and left hip condition have all been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions during the pendency of the claim.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for idiopathic intercranial hypertension and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show incapacitating episodes or other symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation and determination of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, knee disabilities, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, shoulder disability, radiculopathy, hip disability, sinusitis, and deviated septum.

The Board has denied service connection for PFB, but has remanded the claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and an increased rating for headaches and vertigo due to incomplete etiology opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder is dismissed. The appeals for COPD, lumbosacral strain, non-allergic rhinitis, left wrist sprain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve are denied. Service connection requests for CFS, chronic sinusitis, and sleep apnea are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claims for cervical condition and lower back condition are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative disc disease other than IVDS of the lumbar spine is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. The claims of service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and right shoulder disorder caused him to gain weight, which in turn led to his development of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability, finding that his continuous reports of pain since service injury are credible and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability and denied service connection for sleep apnea and chronic fatigue syndrome. The Veteran's low back disability is found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, breast cancer, and a low back disability. The evidence did not support her assertions that these conditions began in service or were related to any in-service events.,The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran’s current diagnoses to her military service.

The Board has determined that there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in this case and a VA medical opinion is required on remand to address the Veteran's claims for GERD, IBS, right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, and sinusitis.,Specifically, the Board finds that the current evidence does not support service connection for any of these conditions.