Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving no issues for the Board to consider.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for back and neck disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder is found to include sleep disturbances, which are granted as a secondary condition. The claims for sleep apnea and right big toe disability are denied. Other rating appeals are dismissed due to procedural defects.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral eye dryness, irritation, and light sensitivity; cervical spine bulging discs, cervicalgia, hypertrophic facet disease, narrowing of neural foramina, spinal stenosis, and spondylosis; spinal stenosis and spondylosis of the lumbar spine; radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities; and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are all granted. However, his claim for service connection for a heart condition is denied.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 4, 2019 for the Veteran's scar (back surgery residuals). The remaining claims are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for lower back condition, migraines, right knee condition, left knee condition, right shoulder pain, bronchitis, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure due to missing community care notes. The AOJ is instructed to make reasonable efforts to obtain these records.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, Neurocognitive Impairment, CFS, Chronic Pain Disorder, Neck and Upper Airway Disorder, Obesity, Nephropathy, Bilateral Pes Planus, Left Knee Disorder, Left Shoulder Disorder, Right Shoulder Disorder, Right Wrist Disorder, Lumbar Spine Disorder, Bilateral Lower Extremity Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (PN), Hearing Loss, ED, and GU Disorder. The decision is based on the absence of a current diagnosis for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis, eye/vision disability, head injury, left ankle and right ankle disabilities, left knee and right knee disabilities, mid/lower back disability, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service.,Service connection for ED as secondary to PTSD was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is warranted due to incomplete medical examination.,The VA examiner concluded that the cervical spine disability was less likely than not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board finds this opinion inadequate as it did not address whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is a congenital defect and if so, whether there was aggravation during service.,The VA examiner noted that the Veteran's pes planus is a congenital condition and concluded that it is an incidental finding with no symptoms related to his service. The Board finds this opinion inadequate as it did not address whether the pes planus is a congenital defect or disease, nor if there was aggravation during service.,The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, obesity, and CKD. No specific issues are listed regarding these conditions in the decision summary.,The Veteran's hypertension is not addressed in the decision summary.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for a back disability, but denied the claim as there is no evidence linking the current condition to military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for left lower extremity radiculopathy, PTSD with depression, hypervigilance, insomnia, and intermittent explosive disorder (PTSD), and lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy (lumbar spine DDD) as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to promulgation of a decision.

Service connection for PTSD, neck disability, low back disability, and right hip disability is granted.,PTSD rating increased to 70% effective April 17, 2024.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in verifying the Veteran's Reserve service and a need for an addendum opinion regarding his back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain a gainful occupation for the period from August 27, 2009, to February 27, 2020.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been granted initial disability ratings of 40 percent each, effective as of January 22, 2026.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to new evidence being added to the record. The case will be returned to the AOJ for initial review.

The Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis and scoliosis have been granted a rating of 40 percent effective as of June 16, 2010.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for the Veteran's back disability and Raynaud's phenomena, service connection for anemia, and entitlement to a TDIU due to unresolved issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral hip disabilities (right and left), limitation of extension, and TDIU. The reasons include the need to consider the ameliorative effects of medications used by the Veteran.