Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 19, 2019, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating prior to August 22, 2014, for chronic thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease is denied.,The Veteran's claim for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (s) is denied.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to a higher initial disability rating prior to October 16, 2020, for cervical spine disability and TDIU prior to November 12, 2018 are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been granted. Effective dates of April 27, 2015, were set for the low back condition and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy conditions. A rating of 40 percent was granted for RLE sciatic nerve radiculopathy as of July 2, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy are currently rated at 10 percent prior to March 5, 2021, and 20 percent thereafter. The appeal is denied as the criteria for higher ratings have not been met.

An appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,An appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to service connection for cervical spine DDD, other than IVDS, including spinal stenosis, is dismissed.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's low back disability prior to December 15, 2020 and right knee instability from April 1, 2023 onwards.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction and TDIU. The Board denied these claims as no earlier effective dates are warranted.,The earliest claim for both conditions was received on October 31, 2022, for erectile dysfunction, and October 19, 2022, for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral strain, finding that it had its onset in service.

The Veteran's vascular dementia and thoracolumbar strain have been granted service connection for accrued benefits purposes. The cause of the Veteran's death has also been established.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability, rated at 40 percent disabling since October 11, 2007, has been granted a TDIU effective January 1, 1983. The Board also granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further evaluation due to an inadequate opinion in the previous VA examination, which did not consider the effects of his service-connected disabilities on his mobility and ability to be physically active.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral foot disability. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining adequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for thoracolumbar spinal stenosis due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset and relationship to active duty or Reserve service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of a left knee condition, lower back condition, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine are granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right lower extremity (RLE) sciatic nerve radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran's left lower extremity (LLE) sciatic nerve radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for neck, back, left elbow, right elbow, sciatic nerve radiculopathy (left and right lower extremities), and tinnitus conditions. The claims were remanded for the claim of a left shoulder condition.

The appeal for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is dismissed. Service connection is granted for insomnia, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, and nerve damage to both lower extremities as secondary to the lumbar spine condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran requires personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform activities of daily living. The claim is remanded to determine if participation in the PCAFC program would be in the Veteran's best interest.