Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a coccyx condition and a low back condition, finding that there is no current diagnosis of either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical stenosis, lumbar spine, lymphedema, and central retinal vein occlusion with macular edema with pseudophakia of the right eye are all granted. The decision is based on direct evidence of a nexus between each condition and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as his claims for service connection for a back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and a heart condition. The appeal was dismissed due to untimely filing.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings for his service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding obtaining community care documents and providing an addendum medical opinion on causation and aggravation of sleep apnea by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities, but has remanded the claim for respiratory disability manifested by shortness of breath due to toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, left shoulder disability, and skin disability. The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and skin disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence.,Compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis and bilateral hearing loss have been denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, low back disability, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, and radiculopathy of the femoral nerve in both lower extremities are all rated at 20 percent each.,Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating of tinnitus due to untimely Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Veteran's lumbar pain with decreased range of motion was not shown to meet the criteria for a higher initial rating than 20 percent, as it did not result in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine being 30 degrees or less or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine including post operative herniated nucleus pulposus due to a duty-to-assist error. The AOJ is required to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's pre-existing back disability was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA will schedule an examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, and obtain SSA disability benefits records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted with effective dates of April 18, 2023.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches and a lumbar spine condition due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's participation in toxic exposure risk activities during service.