Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right elbow condition, right ankle condition, low back disability (lumbosacral degenerative joint disease), left knee disability, and left ankle disability have all been denied.,There is no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for her cervical strain with degenerative disc disease was denied.,Her claims for earlier effective dates for the 20 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis, and the 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and traumatic brain injury were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for various orthopedic and dermatological conditions are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic nephropathy is dismissed as the kidney condition has already been granted.,Service connection for hypothyroidism was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than September 27, 2006 for various disabilities have been denied.,Effective dates prior to September 27, 2006 were not granted for the service connection grants and disability ratings of several conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder disability, and right ankle disability are granted as service-connected based on new evidence provided since the prior decisions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to their death. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather the right of an eligible person to continue the appeal on the pending claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability, finding no evidence that his current condition is related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected Polycythemia Vera.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical spine myofascial pain syndrome and lumbar spine spondylosis and degenerative joint disease (DJD) at L5-S1 are being remanded due to a pre-decisional error in notifying him of his right to a hearing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, and right wrist sprain due to inadequate examinations in previous VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeal for rating increases in multiple conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's Bell's Palsy, Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Hypertension, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Glaucoma, and Low Back Arthritis were denied as they did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter, and the evidence does not show that his disabilities are related to or may be associated with service.,The Veteran's low back arthritis was denied as there is no indication of an association between the disability claimed by the veteran and his active duty service.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) housebound benefits due to her service-connected PTSD and other disabilities that independently rate at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's low back strain disability was denied a higher rating prior to July 20, 2020. Separate ratings of 10 percent were granted for radiculopathy affecting the sciatic and femoral nerves in the lower extremities from July 20, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back condition, left knee condition, and right shoulder condition due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's reported pain is considered in determining whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral degenerative arthritis with lumbar scoliosis and right knee degenerative arthritis, as these conditions are not found to be related to his active duty service. The claim for anxiety/panic attacks is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for retrolisthesis of the lumbar spine and PTSD has been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board will consider any new evidence submitted by the Veteran or his representative.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of his back disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ should obtain a VA examination and medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's back disability is related to his service based on the evidence associated with the claims file prior to the February 2024 rating decision.