Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim.,Service connection is granted for left knee pain, bilateral RLS, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including a lack of VA treatment records and medical literature submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral ankle and knee conditions and erectile dysfunction. The issues are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbosacral strain is higher than 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this claim due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, dental disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 6, 2023, for the grant of service connection for GERD has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 12, 2022, for the increased 20 percent rating for a low back disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 12, 2022, for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy has been denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Cervical Spine Disability as the earliest possible effective date is June 6, 2016, which is later than when entitlement arose. The Veteran's claims were not filed within one year of a final denial in July 25, 2013.

The Veteran's cervical spine and headache disorder claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence received after the September 2023 supplemental claim decision supports readjudicating the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee pain, right knee pain, and a back disability. However, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, these issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral. The Veteran's claims are also granted for a 60 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic.

Service connection for GERD, ED, sinusitis, RLE nerve disorder, LLE nerve disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right ankle disorder, and left shoulder disorder is denied as these conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back conditions and her service connection claim. The VA will obtain a new opinion from a qualified examiner.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, TBI, a deviated nasal septum, lumbosacral strain, and a respiratory condition. The decision is based on the appellant's dishonorable discharge from military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran is in need of personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months due to an inability to perform one or more activities of daily living (ADLs). The PCAFC eligibility process will continue, including consideration of whether the program is in the Veteran's best interest.

The Veteran's disability rating for her service-connected lumbar spine disability is restored to 40 percent effective April 1, 2025. The remaining issues of increased ratings are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with sacroiliac sprain was granted a 40 percent rating effective November 5, 2023.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities (sciatic nerve) was also granted effective November 5, 2023.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, cervical strain, plantar fasciitis, and hysterectomy are all found to be related to her service. The Board granted these claims based on direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for neck pain with upper extremity symptoms, low back pain with lower extremity symptoms, bilateral knee pain, bilateral shoulder pain, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and bilateral lower extremity varicose veins due to a failure of VA to provide examinations as requested by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, thoracolumbar spine disability, and RLE sciatic radiculopathy. The Veteran's symptoms have been present since his military service.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's headaches, thoracolumbar spine disability, and RLE sciatic radiculopathy as these conditions are considered to be directly related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Service connection for allergic rhinitis was also denied due to lack of evidence supporting its onset during or shortly after military service.