Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there is no probative evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and remanded the remaining issues related to anxiety, depression, foot disability, knee disabilities, back disability, gastrointestinal disability, hypertension, and sleep disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a low back disability due to an error in obtaining a medical opinion prior to the March 31, 2020 decision on appeal. The AOJ needs to obtain a new medical opinion that addresses whether the Veteran's current low back condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's application for PCAFC was denied due to a lack of personal care services. The Board has determined that the Veteran is in need of personal care services and remands the case for further consideration, including a best interest determination by a clinician.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a lumbar spine condition has been dismissed due to their passing before the Board could issue a decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine following a L4-L5 laminectomy. The decision is based on evidence that connects the current back condition to active military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the current lumbar spine disorder is due to his service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea, 40 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease, and 10 percent for right knee scars have been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has decided the first issue and denied a higher evaluation for DDD with lumbar strain. The second issue of service connection for diabetes type 2 as secondary to service-connected disabilities, including obesity as an intermediate step, is remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to errors in obtaining medical opinions related to the Veteran's head trauma, low back pain, and left knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including Parkinson's disease and associated lower extremity disabilities, have been shown to preclude locomotion without the aid of a cane, walker, and wheelchair. Eligibility for specially adapted housing is established. However, as eligibility has already been established, the claim for a special home adaptation grant cannot be granted.

The Board has identified issues for remand related to the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, PFB, and a lumbar spine condition. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development as the VA examinations were not fully adequate.

The Veteran's back condition was not rated higher than 40 percent due to lack of favorable ankylosis.,Left and right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy were not rated higher than 20 percent as there was no evidence of moderately severe incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings of his service-connected lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities at a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral knee and right shoulder conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 13, 2016.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, osteoarthritis right knee, and osteoarthritis left knee due to untimely filing of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not found to be incurred during a period of active service or secondary to his service-connected cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome.,The Board determined that the evidence did not support finding that the Veteran's current lumbosacral spine conditions, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were incurred during a period of active service or secondary to his service-connected cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative arthritis with herniated discs and right knee degenerative joint disease with total arthroplasty are denied. The maximum rating of 40 percent is assigned for the lumbar condition, and a 60 percent rating is assigned for the right knee condition after January 27, 2023.