Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and back disability due to a lack of current diagnosis. The appeal is remanded as there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to obtain a VA examination prior to the November 2024 rating decision.

The Veteran's back condition, LUE and RUE neuropathies are granted as secondary to his service-connected amputation of the left arm below insertion of deltoid.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, were denied as the Veteran failed to report for necessary VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being REMANDED due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his lumbar spine, knee, and radiculopathy conditions. The RO must also schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and severity of his right rib fractures and hemorrhoids.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to a lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disability is denied. A TDIU is granted, effective from February 14, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, hypertension, and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's STRs show elevated blood pressure levels during service, which may be related to his current hypertension.

The Veteran's Grave's disease is granted as service connected. The Board finds the evidence of record is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's other conditions are related to his military service, specifically TERA exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of a hand or foot, permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, the Veteran is denied financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher ratings for lumbar degenerative arthritis status post spinal fusion and unspecified ADHD.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 4, 2011 for the Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with lumbosacral IVDS.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address specific circumstances.

The Veteran's initial claim for migraine including migraine variants and tension was granted with an effective date of October 8, 2019. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at 100 percent since March 25, 2024. Service connection for low back disability, OSA, peripheral vascular disease, varicose veins, and radiculopathy was granted with an effective date of March 25, 2024. The Veteran's TDIU, SMC, and DEA claims are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left foot condition and right foot condition have also been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a low back condition has been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA eligibility, finding that there was no pending claim for TDIU prior to March 21, 2022, and that the Veteran did not have a permanent and total service-connected disability prior to this date.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD, a bilateral knee strain, low back pain, a neck condition, and posttraumatic arthritis of the right long finger. The Veteran was also denied service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder and allergic rhinitis, as well as GERD.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of his low back disability and cervical spine disability to his military service. The Veteran is asked to provide additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic low back pain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to her active military service and that she experienced symptoms during this period.