Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, lower back disability, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety disorder, insomnia, head pain (also claimed as sores on the head), and flat feet (also claimed as irritation feet) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability was previously denied in February 2013. New and relevant evidence has been received since then, sufficient to readjudicate the claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a left knee condition, finding that his current disabilities are due to his military service. The new evidence submitted after the hearing supported this conclusion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after discharge, and the persuasive balance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current low back pain is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain, and tinnitus have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the Veteran's shoulder and shin disability claims.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance due to a back brace is denied because there is no evidence that the back brace tends to wear out or tear his clothing.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been dismissed due to the grant of a higher disability rating in his August 2025 decision.

The reduction in rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from 20 percent to noncompensable effective March 1, 2021, was improper and the 20 percent disability rating is restored.,The reduction in rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from 20 percent to noncompensable effective March 1, 2021, was improper and the 20 percent disability rating is restored.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for SMC purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity femoral nerve impairments, and SMC based on aid and attendance due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral knee conditions, and an intestinal condition (chronic diarrhea). The Veteran's PTSD is also rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is granted as service connected because the condition was incurred during active duty and there is a link between the in-service injury and current symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder was granted, effective August 4, 2023.,Effective dates prior to January 18, 2023, were denied for lumbosacral strain, bilateral hip strain, and supraventricular arrhythmia. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension was granted effective August 23, 2019, but no earlier.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction was granted effective March 21, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's back disability and his military service. The claim will be reviewed again with a new medical examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, right hip replacement residuals, and low back disability due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The Veteran is competent to provide testimony concerning factual matters of which he has firsthand knowledge, such as experiencing physical symptoms related to his MOS as Fighting Vehicle Infantryman.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for various effective date claims and rating issues.,No new evidence or changes in the Veteran's conditions have been presented to warrant a different decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, boxer's fracture left 5th metacarpal, or left ear hearing loss disability. Service connection was granted for lumbar spine disability, lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic diarrhea, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 12, 2014 for the award of service connection for a back disability. This decision is based on new and material evidence received within one year of the December 2015 denial.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of consideration of medication effects on the Veteran's back disorder during the VA examination. The claim will be returned for an addendum examination or new examination that accounts for the use of medication.