Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus type II, and chronic sinusitis, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities is denied as his service-connected conditions do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since January 15, 2019. Effective from January 14, 2020, the Veteran is granted TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits based on permanent and total disability status due to her service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new addendum opinion is required.

The Board has determined that the VA examination report is inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's low back disability, including any associated radicular symptoms. The effects of medication are also to be considered in assessing the disability.

Entitlement to an earlier effective date of December 28, 2022 for the grant of service connection for a back disability and RLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is granted.,Entitlement to an earlier effective date of October 2, 2023 for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS and bulging disc, but the claim for secondary service connection for lumbar spinal stenosis is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding aggravation.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with spondylosis was granted service connection. The claims for left and right flat feet were remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremities disabilities due to inextricably intertwined issues. The AOJ will consider any new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for leg length discrepancy and back disability was denied.,The Veteran also appealed for an earlier effective date for his service-connected back disability, but this appeal was also denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.,There is no evidence of a current low back disability or sleep apnea in the record. The Board denied service connection for these conditions as there was no diagnosis during or after service.,The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis is related to his active service, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.,Service connection for a back disability remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his back disability was denied, and the issue of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding earlier effective dates for various evaluations due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disability, lumbosacral strain, or hip strains. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a remand is necessary to address his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left hip arthritis, and right hip arthritis are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, low back disability, bilateral foot disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are being remanded due to the inability to obtain relevant private treatment records. The Veteran will be notified of the issue with his authorization and given an opportunity to provide new information or submit the records himself.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis with spinal fusion and congenital lumbar stenosis is granted an increased initial rating of 40 percent, effective May 15, 2018.

The Veteran's lumbar disability is rated at 40 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating as there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and sleep apnea (OSA) on the basis that these conditions are related to in-service events, with no presumption or secondary theory of entitlement considered.