Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are found to be related to service, with the current conditions being secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has decided to remand the eligibility determination for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to inadequate medical opinion and a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of lumbar spine, arthritis of left knee, trochanteric bursitis of left hip, trochanteric bursitis of right hip, and hypertension. The Board found no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been found to be sufficient for a TDIU effective from November 19, 2020. Effective February 27, 2024, the Veteran has already received a 100% rating for PTSD and SMC based on housebound status. The earlier effective dates requested for various service-connected conditions have been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine strain, thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbosacral strain (back conditions), left lower extremity pain, right lower extremity pain, left shoulder strain, and right hip pain. The evidence does not show a nexus between these conditions and active duty.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of a 40 percent rating for lumbar strain, and service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and additional development is required.,Specifically, the VA examiners did not adequately address the Veteran's reported symptoms and exposures during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder, lumbar spine, and right hip disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's request for higher-level review was timely filed, despite being received more than one year after the notification of the September 2023 rating decision. This was due to good cause shown by the change in representation and the extension requested by the attorney.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective July 14, 2021. The Board denied an earlier effective date as there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to the intent-to-file on that date.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain (low back disability) based on the Veteran's in-service injury and his current symptoms. The decision is binding only with respect to this specific case.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of November 22, 2022 for the award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is granted. The effective date is based on continuous pursuit of his increased disability rating claims and the fact that he meets the criteria for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is determined to be a result of his military service, and he is granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to the need for an adequate VA examination, and his claim for service connection for radiculopathy as due to lumbosacral strain is also remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection for various wrist and elbow conditions, finding that the Veteran did not submit the correct form within one year of receiving a decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine if any identified recurrent femoral disabilities had their onset during active service or are related to any incident of service, including whether pre-existing slipped femoral epiphysis repair residuals were aggravated by active service.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical strain, elbow and knee conditions, radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities, thoracolumbar strain, and GERD. The effective date is set at September 13, 2023.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the claimed disabilities and active service. The Appellant's neck condition, anxiety and depression are also being reviewed in light of a potential nexus with her chronic pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing (SAH) or special home adaptation (SHA) grant due to his respiratory disability, which is presumed by the PACT Act. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a permanent and total disability resulting in anatomical loss of use of both hands, burns, or residuals of an inhalational injury.

The Veteran's back condition is granted service connection. The respiratory, jaw, hand pain, shin splints, and depression claims are denied.