Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 40 percent for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis L4-L5 and spondylolisthesis is denied. A 20 percent disability rating, effective May 20, 2021, is granted for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted effective May 20, 2021.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including sleep apnea, hypertension, left knee strain, left hip condition, right hip condition, foot pain, headaches, low back condition, and neck condition. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's initial 20 percent rating for a back disability is granted, and the appeal to establish an effective date prior to July 27, 2012, is dismissed.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and initial ratings, but granted a 10 percent rating for migraine headaches and denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his back disability. The TDIU appeal was also dismissed.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for GERD has been readjudicated due to the submission of relevant new evidence.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral eye condition, headaches, low back condition, lung cancer, and Parkinson's disease with tremors have also been readjudicated due to the submission of relevant new evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy, which precludes him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other anxiety/depression disorders, related to combat stressors during active duty.,Service connection was also granted for a lower back disability, linked to the Veteran's in-service injury while deployed. ,However, the claim for secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) due to service-connected conditions or as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest, which is not service connected. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's service-connected PTSD or other conditions to his obesity and subsequent diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The evidence submitted, including a private medical opinion and VA examination, supports a nexus between the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for various lower extremity radiculopathy conditions as they were granted in a previous decision, and there are no remaining allegations of error to address.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has received a withdrawal of the appeal from the Veteran's attorney, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left knee condition, right knee condition, and lumbar spine condition has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a gastrointestinal condition (colitis), scarring of the right hand pinky finger, scarring of the right hand thumb, and tendon damage of the left thumb have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but the appeal regarding a left shoulder disability is remanded due to incomplete verification of National Guard service dates.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including chondromalacia with degenerative joint disease and instability, are rated at the maximum allowable under current VA regulations.,Separate ratings of 10 percent each have been granted for left and right knee instability.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain with spinal fusion and spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis, scoliosis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and spondylosis with laminectomy, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted and remanded for further review.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy are granted as secondary to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board found no current disabilities of the bilateral elbows, shoulders, right ankle, hip, or back that could be linked to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of hypercholesterolemia, central pain syndrome, right shoulder disability, left ankle strain, lumbosacral strain (low back condition), hypertension, ischemic stroke, hemiplegia/hemiparesis, craniectomy with acquired skull defect and delayed wound healing, deep vein thrombosis, seizure disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection of TDIU has also been remanded.,The Board found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of hypercholesterolemia, central pain syndrome, right shoulder disability, or left ankle strain. Service connection was denied for these conditions.