Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the VA examination relied upon for the current disability rating. The Veteran requests an increased rating based on flare-ups causing additional functional loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding VA and private treatment records not being obtained, which may be relevant to the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder with alcohol dependency, and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to errors in VA's duty to assist.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service injury during parachute jumps.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar spinal stenosis, arthritis, and disc protrusion, did not begin during service or is otherwise unrelated to an in-service injury or disease. The claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a back disability, as well as his appeals for compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence warranting an increased rating.

The Veteran's migraines are granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The Board has also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the remaining issues.

The Veteran's attempts to appeal the denial of service connection for low back pain were dismissed as untimely.,The Veteran's appeals regarding the grant of service connection for other specified anxiety disorder were also dismissed as untimely.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee and lumbosacral spine conditions, attributing them to his military service.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, effective from September 19, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected back disability was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis or its functional equivalent.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is rated at 40 percent effective November 26, 2018. The rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is also granted with an effective date of December 20, 2018.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome is granted a 40% rating effective June 29, 2017. The Board finds that the medical evidence shows that the Veteran's low back disability warrants a 40 percent rating from this date.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (psychiatric disability), tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, lumbosacral strain with levoconvex midthoracic scoliosis (lumbar spine disability), right shoulder dislocation with rotator cuff tendonitis and shoulder strain (right shoulder disability), left shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis (left shoulder disability), right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome (right knee disability), left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee disability), right ankle sprain with lateral collateral ligament injury (right ankle disability), and left ankle sprain with lateral collateral ligament injury (left ankle disability) has been granted. The effective date for these decisions is November 28, 2022.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and initial ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for right ankle disability, right knee disability, and back disability due to new evidence received after a September 2024 rating decision. Service connection is now granted for right ankle arthritis and total ankle joint replacement, right knee strain, meniscal tear, anterior cruciate ligament tear, osteoarthritis, and total knee arthroplasty, as well as degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine secondary to these conditions. The Board also granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a low back disorder was dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement was filed more than one year after notification of the November 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spondylosis with DDD and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the medical evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that a remand is needed to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the need for regular aid and attendance on a substitution basis. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as his cervical spine and thoracic strain conditions have been granted increased ratings to 40 percent each.