Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of his back, left hip, and right hip disabilities. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective October 17, 2016. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Veteran's scoliosis of the lumbar spine is related to his active service and has been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is caused by his service-connected right knee, bilateral shoulder, and neck disabilities. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, lumbar spine disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claims for earlier effective date, increased evaluations for lower extremity disabilities, and lumbar spine disability are not currently before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, lower back scar, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for low back and right lower extremity radicular disabilities must be remanded due to inadequate examinations and opinions provided in previous remands.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that there was no persuasive evidence linking his current back condition to his service or to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for low back and left knee disabilities, as well as diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea.,There is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for a back disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left hip, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been withdrawn. The Board has also granted the Veteran a TDIU effective August 31, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves from August 27, 2024 forward due to a lack of an examination.

The Veteran's back disability has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 17, 2017; from April 17, 2017 to January 26, 2024; or from January 26, 2024. The Veteran's back disability has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to April 17, 2017 and from April 17, 2017 to January 26, 2024; or for a rating in excess of 40 percent from January 26, 2024.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and relevant VA treatment records being added after the issuance of the SOC, as well as outstanding private treatment records from a private clinician at Ochsner Medical Center. The case will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disability and remanded the issues of right ankle and back disabilities due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability may be related to service, but more evidence is needed for a definitive conclusion.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no case or controversy remaining regarding service connection for a thoracic/lumbar spine disability and groin condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, Hepatitis C and fatty liver, tinea versicolor with eczema, radiculopathy of the left and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 3, 2020. The Board granted an earlier effective date for TDIU based on this evidence.

The Veteran's claims for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine conditions, as well as related radiculopathy, were denied due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.