Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome to include spinal stenosis and lumbar scoliosis, right knee total arthroplasty, and left knee strain are all granted service connection as directly related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and dismissed the appeal for sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain was granted with an effective date of February 1, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran is entitled to this effective date as it represents the day VA received notice of his intent to file a claim leading to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of functional impairment. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if any service-connected disability results in loss of use of both lower extremities, one lower extremity and one upper extremity, or residuals affecting balance and propulsion.

The Board has dismissed the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for tinnitus. The issue of entitlement to a low back disability is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted effective dates of September 16, 2023 for the appellant's service-connected migraines (50%), lumbosacral spine disability (40%), and cervical spine disability (30%). These ratings were increased from their initial effective dates based on the appellant's continuous pursuit of review options.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. Additional evidence is needed, including private treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of heatstroke is also being remanded due to a duty to assist error. A VA examination is required to determine the current severity of her service-connected heatstroke and its impact on her headaches.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for intervertebral disc disorder of the lumbar spine, finding that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether his current condition was incurred in or related to an in-service event.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to errors in fulfilling their duty to assist.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss and granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability were dismissed due to improper concurrent elections.,The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of back, sciatic nerve, right shoulder, foot, skin, left-hand, or right-hand disabilities. The claim for headaches was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new examination regarding her back disability, specifically addressing whether she has functional ankylosis during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her lumbosacral strain is denied. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 10, 2024 and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the current condition and an in-service injury.

The Veteran's low back disability and right leg radiculopathy are granted service connection, but left leg radiculopathy is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 100 percent is not warranted.,Service connection for a back disability, fatigue, and sleep apnea are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection due to lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative disc disease. The claim was initially denied in October 2018 but granted with a retroactive effective date of September 18, 2023.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of tinnitus, anxiety disorder, left hamstring tear, bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, and lumbar spine condition due to improper concurrent election.