Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot eyelet syndrome. Service connection for a right hip disability is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, bilateral hearing loss, and a back disability due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as arthritis and disc disease of the low back. The appeal regarding non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma is remanded due to inadequate TERA memorandum.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for a back disorder, initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, and an increased rating for bilateral foot disability.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and a new Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) must be issued.

The Veteran's right hip strain with limitation of flexion is granted a 40 percent disability rating effective August 1, 2016. The right hip strain with limitation of movement (abduction, adduction, and internal rotation) is granted a 20 percent disability rating effective August 1, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantial gainful employment since January 1, 2017.

The Veteran's left inguinal hernia repair is rated at 0 percent, and he was granted a TDIU effective October 19, 2018. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability prior to January 21, 2016 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter is denied. The Board also remanded the claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 23, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine condition, bilateral hand conditions (Raynaud syndrome), right ankle condition, left upper and right upper extremity radiculopathies. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his in-service injuries.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability with myelopathy and mild degenerative joint disease bilateral knees, but granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for lower back, right hip, left hip, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and service. The VA must obtain new medical opinions that consider the Veteran's statements about parachute jumps during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis and for a separate rating for right trapezius muscle strain before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, breathing problems, migraines, IBS, syncope with dizziness, low back disability, neck disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability are all denied as there is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions.,The Veteran has not been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, breathing problems, migraines, IBS, syncope with dizziness, low back or neck disabilities, or ankle, foot, knee, shoulder, or wrist disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, including as secondary to his service-connected right knee condition. The Board found no link between the Veteran's back condition and his military service or his service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's employment during the appeal period was full-time and his income exceeded the poverty threshold, making him unable to establish marginal employment. Therefore, he is not entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, posttraumatic stress disorder, a back condition, and a left knee condition. The Board of Veterans' Appeals dismissed the appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, spondylolisthesis, and lumbar facet arthropathy at L4-5, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions was dismissed due to a concurrent election of review options, which is not allowed under VA regulations.