Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 6, 2023 for the award of service connection and a separate rating for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is denied. The earliest date of entitlement is February 6, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for multilevel degenerative disc disease, hernia disability, and lung disability due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, which is secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability, has been granted. The claims for bilateral foot and back disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for separate ratings for bilateral femoral and sciatic neuralgia and neuritis as they are considered to be duplicative of the already assigned disability ratings for his lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability manifested by pain, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during his military service.

The appeal for service connection for a back disability is dismissed due to an administrative error in docketing the appeal.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 50 percent from October 17, 2013 to February 8, 2022. The right eye condition was denied as secondary to the service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 40 percent prior to January 19, 2012 for lower back disability was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 25, 2005 for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied.

Service connection is granted for upper and lower back disorders.,Service connection is also granted for a right knee disorder. However, service connection is denied for a sinus condition manifested by headaches, other than nonallergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a back condition is granted. The claims for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient explanation of its reasons for denying a higher rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability since September 25, 2002. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating and needs further examination and opinion regarding his condition.

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals regarding increased ratings for service-connected lumbar spine disability prior to March 5, 2019, and from March 5, 2019, to August 5, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for muscle spasms, finding that the Veteran does not have a separate diagnosed condition and that his back spasms are symptoms of his existing back condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that she is able to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment despite her conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine condition, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and degenerative joint disease, finding that it is related to his in-service fall.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 28, 2010, to August 26, 2016. The Board granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for IVDD with DJD of the lumbosacral spine prior to March 3, 2020 and from March 3, 2020; left lower extremity radiculopathy from November 6, 2014; and right lower extremity radiculopathy from November 6, 2014. The remand is due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of VA medical opinions and failure to notify the appellant about private treatment records. The claims are related to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease.