Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's disability rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and thoracic spine sprain was reduced from 40% to 20%, effective February 12, 2025. The reduction was improper as the evidence did not demonstrate improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for radiculopathy, left and right lower extremities as secondary to lumbosacral strain due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion prior to the March 2025 rating decision. The Veteran is advised to cooperate with VA in obtaining relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, Reiter's syndrome, and lumbar spine disability have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and that his service-connected disabilities do not warrant an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's back disability, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and levoscoliosis, is granted as service connection. The bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy conditions are also granted as secondary to the now service-connected back disability.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied.

The Veteran's attorney representative was granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 2025 rating decision, which included an increased rating for PTSD and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for benign prostate hyperplasia is denied due to lack of a nexus between the condition and his military service.,Service connection for sinus condition is denied as there was no in-service event or injury, and the current diagnosis occurred over 50 years after separation.,The lower back condition claim is remanded because the VA examiner found that the Veteran waited nearly 50 years to seek treatment.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient examination results. The remaining issues of service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's low back condition is determined to be the result of his service-connected knee disabilities, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for headaches. The proposed severance of service connection for hypertension is also dismissed as a matter of law.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine is remanded due to the inadequacy of the August 2020 VA examination report and the need for current range of motion testing that disregards the ameliorative effects of his medications.

The Veteran's back disorder is remanded for further examination and opinion to determine its etiology, including consideration of his in-service injury and treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, with effective dates set at October 18, 2023. The lumbosacral strain has also received a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The issues include anxiety, PTSD, migraines, right shoulder disability, and back pain.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are granted as service-connected due to in-service vehicle accidents.

The Veteran's back, left foot, and right foot conditions are granted as service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease due to insufficient VA opinions addressing service connection. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional records from Aurora Health Care, provide an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the GI disorders, and address whether any GI disorder was caused or aggravated by the service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 2, 2017. The Board has decided that he is entitled to a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of proper medical opinions and procedural errors in obtaining those opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar disorder, diagnosed as DDD and a lumbosacral strain, has been granted service connection. The Board found that the disability is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, back disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or in-service incurrence.,There is no persuasive evidence that the Veteran has any of these conditions.