Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence, including private treatment records.

The Veteran was granted an increased initial disability rating of 20 percent for lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis, effective prior to August 8, 2023. The decision is based on the VA examination report and consideration of medication effects.

The Veteran's right hand fingers condition is granted service connection, while the heart murmur and diabetes mellitus type II are denied. Other conditions remain unresolved.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further evaluation and determination of service connection for various conditions. The current rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent, and right ear hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder, back, and neck disabilities but denied hepatitis C. The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses are less likely related to his in-service injuries.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the Veteran withdrew it before a decision was made.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to Persistent Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress, Left Ulnar Nerve Neuropathy Status Post Ulnar Nerve Release, and Lumbosacral Strain. The private examiner's opinion supports the conclusion that obesity is an intermediate step between these service-connected conditions and the Veteran's current OSA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a rating more than 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's tinnitus and lumbosacral spine strain have been granted service connection, with a rating of 100% effective February 26, 2024. The lumbosacral spine strain issue is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, lower spine, and neck conditions due to inadequate VA medical opinions in the previous decision. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist, and no valid service connection is found for an acquired psychiatric condition or obstructive sleep apnea. The back condition issue remains pending.

The claim of service connection for a lumbar spine condition is denied.,The claim of service connection for sleep apnea is denied.,The claim of service connection for hypertension is remanded.,The claim of service connection for vertigo is remanded.,The claim of service connection for sinusitis is remanded.,The claim of service connection for asthma (also claimed as chronic bronchitis) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Veteran was granted a higher rating for migraine headaches, but the other claims were either not granted or had their effective dates delayed.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral arthritis, bilateral knee condition, right elbow condition, and left toe condition.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disabilities, including osteoarthritis and strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was granted, with effective dates of August 6, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inconsistencies in the medical evidence regarding her arm symptoms and radiculopathy. The VA will obtain a report of the May 2024 nerve conduction study and schedule an examination to determine if she has a right and/or left arm disability, including radiculopathy, that is related to her cervical spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, foot disabilities, shoulder, ankle, hip, knee, and multi-joint arthritis. The Board also granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD with substance use disorder, severe.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to noise in service, but there is no persuasive medical evidence linking his current tinnitus to this exposure.,Service connection for right knee joint osteoarthritis with strain and thoracolumbar sprain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS has been denied as there is no persuasive medical evidence linking these conditions to service.