Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity sciatica, finding that there is a nexus between these conditions and in-service injuries. The Veteran's current disabilities are considered to be due to his military service.

The Veteran's application for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants was denied as he does not meet the eligibility requirements due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the regulatory requirements.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective October 10, 2013, based on his service-connected disabilities. The effective date is the earliest possible as it aligns with when he stopped working due to his neck disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted. The Board has also remanded the cases for increased rating examinations.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with myofascial pain syndrome and femoral nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were denied. The current effective date remains June 17, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of a hand or foot, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ankylosis of one or both knees or hips, or permanent impairment of vision. Therefore, the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of one automobile or other conveyance with necessary automotive adaptive equipment are not met.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine arthritis, bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, and lumbar degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to have been incurred during his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a failure to provide adequate notice and assistance in scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for pes planus due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The low back disability claim is remanded as there are errors in satisfying a regulatory or statutory duty.

The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spines, which was granted by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, left foot condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, and multiple myeloma are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and left foot condition are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip condition is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip condition is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple myeloma is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, finding that the Veteran's condition did not have its onset in service or is related to service. The evidence showed no indication of a chronic disease in service and no continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for left-hand skin condition, right-hand skin condition, left-hand injury, and right-hand injury. The low back injury is also considered service-connected based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome and left lower extremity radiculopathy, result in a loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board finds that the statutory and regulatory criteria for specially adapted housing are met, thus granting the benefit.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased ratings, with the effective date set at February 19, 2021.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claims for service connection on all listed conditions are not before the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 8, 2023 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) because it is not factually ascertainable that his service-connected conditions caused him to become unemployable within one year before filing the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and left knee disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not considering the effects of medication on the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's insomnia is a symptom of his already service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychological disorder manifesting in insomnia other than unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder have not been met.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.