Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and various musculoskeletal conditions, have resulted in a combined rating of 100 percent. The Board has granted SMC at the M-rate due to his need for special aid and attendance.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disability, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his psychiatric disability (schizophrenia) is also denied as he is already in receipt of the maximum schedular rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic), right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic), and right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral) disabilities have been granted increased ratings effective February 28, 2024.,The Veteran's service connection for the left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral) disability has also been granted effective February 28, 2024. However, an earlier effective date is denied as there was no evidence of entitlement prior to this date.

The appeal for service connection of the Veteran's back/lumbar spine disability, neck/cervical spine disability, migraine headaches, urinary frequency, and TMJ/TMD has been dismissed. The appeal for service connection of depression is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of a current disability. The appeal is remanded for further examination and medical opinions regarding spine disorder, infectious mononucleosis, left shoulder instability, right shoulder instability, and right lower extremity pain.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and lumbosacral strain due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis disability is remanded due to the lack of sufficient documentation in the claims file regarding a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy as secondary to his service-connected residuals, slight wedging of thoracic vertebra VIII, traumatic. The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar radiculopathy is not related to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and adjudication of his claims regarding the rating for his back disability, including issues related to an initial rating prior to March 14, 2024, and a higher rating from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, neck, right hip, and left shoulder conditions due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is not entitled to presumptive or secondary service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, adjustment disorder, bilateral tinnitus, and headaches have been granted service connection.,Compensable ratings for the Veteran's tinea pedis and reactive airway disease were denied.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was presented to readjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right shoulder, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities. However, these issues are being remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining a VA medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his back disability, and his SSA records need to be obtained.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease is granted a rating of 20 percent from June 11, 2012 to March 30, 2014. The ankylosis of the lumbar spine remains at 40 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while his chronic lumbar strain, limitation of flexion in the left knee, and athlete's foot are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his in-service complaint and current condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining military personnel records and service treatment records, as well as verifying the Veteran's duty status during her Reserve service. The claim will be reconsidered with this additional information.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a neck disability due to lack of examination and medical opinion.