Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that new evidence supports a link to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for right finger amputations and denied increased ratings for a back disability and syncope, finding that the evidence does not support a conclusion that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected syncope.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for bilateral hearing loss disability due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The claims of service connection for psychiatric disorder, back disorder, neck disorder, skin disorder, and CFS were denied as there was no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease. As this impacts the TDIU claim, both issues are being remanded.

The Board has found a pre-decisional error in the denial of the Veteran's request to change his vocational rehabilitation goal from diesel technology to obtaining a music degree. The case is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back pain and arthritis of the neck, left foot, right foot, left hand, right hand, and right shoulder. The Veteran's testimony regarding in-service injuries was inconsistent with the record.

The appeal to reduce the rating for lumbosacral strain from 40 percent to 10 percent is dismissed because it was not an adjudicative determination, and no valid notice of disagreement was filed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on housebound status as he does not have a single disability rated at 100% and his disabilities are not so severe that they render him substantially confined to his residence.

The Veteran seeks higher initial ratings for his back disability, but the VA examinations from the period under review are inadequate. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain an opinion as to the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's back disability during the period under review.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back and right knee disabilities, finding that these conditions caused his obesity, which in turn led to his current condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, rash on the lower back, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and alcohol and cocaine use disorder), headaches, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability are all granted as service-connected. The evidence supports these findings based on noise exposure in service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and a low back disorder, finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, right eye disability, and left eye disability due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's back condition is granted service connection. The claim for a condition manifested by disequilibrium and dizziness is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has identified issues for remand related to service connection claims and effective date determinations. The appellant's appeal includes multiple conditions, including a headache disability, left ankle and foot disabilities, low back disability, knee degenerative joint disease (DJD), neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Board is directed to address the issues of service connection for these conditions and determine appropriate effective dates.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in gainful employment as of January 1, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's initial rating for back disability is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Service connection requests for neck condition, right ankle condition, and sleep apnea are also denied.

The Board has granted effective dates of October 21, 2021 for service connection of cervical spine degenerative disc disease with cervical lordosis and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The VA medical opinion is inadequate as it did not address the April 1985 assessment of musculoskeletal pain and October 1986 examination findings.