Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various hand and elbow conditions, as well as a back condition, have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but has remanded the cases of left knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain associated with plantar fasciitis, right foot, is rated at 20 percent and denied an evaluation in excess of this.,The Veteran's left and right hip strains are rated at 10 percent each and denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted with an effective date of May 3, 2016. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities including his CFS and adjustment disorder.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is granted. A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right hip disability (secondary to right knee) are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for low back sprain, tendonitis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) of the right hip, degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) of the left hip, and neck sprain. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.,The Board found that the Veteran experienced injuries during service, including infantry training, ruck marches, and a fall from a rope bridge, which led to medical treatment for joint pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with IVDS and osteophytes, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as his claim was not filed within one year of the June 2014 rating decision denying these conditions. The effective date remains May 15, 2018.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities with an effective date of February 9, 2015.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the deferred issues regarding entitlement to compensation for various conditions, including dry eye syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left carpal tunnel, a left knee disability, a back disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right carpal tunnel, and a right knee disability. The evidence did not support the presence of these conditions at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that new evidence supports a link to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending claims, including the rating higher than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and the initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his knee disabilities and has remanded the issues of service connection for a sleep disability and a back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and degenerative disc disease with lumbar surgery, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since February 5, 2016. The Board has granted a TDIU from this date.

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) with agoraphobia with panic attacks as directly related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.

The Board has found the reduction in rating for spinal stenosis, lumbar disc disease, and Schmorl's nodes from 20% to 10% was improper. The 20% rating is restored. However, the issues of increased ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and ankle conditions are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective February 6, 2009.,The Veteran also received eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 for the same effective date.

The Veteran's need for the regular aid and attendance of another person was determined due to his service-connected disabilities, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's low back condition may be related to service or his service-connected chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to his current chronic back pain.