Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability, rated at 20 percent since November 2011, is restored to a rating of 20 percent effective September 26, 2024.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bronchiectasis are granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is found to have started during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with right great toe hallux limitus; bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy; obstructive sleep apnea; cervical degenerative arthritis, disc disease, spinal stenosis, and C4-C7 fusion; left shoulder strain; lumbar degenerative disc disease; right shoulder strain; right knee tendonitis; left knee tendonitis; painful right neck scar; tinnitus; right lower extremity polyneuropathy; and left lower extremity polyneuropathy render him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals for proposed decreases in disability ratings were dismissed as the proposals were not final decisions at the time of the Veteran's Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA needs to obtain examination reports and determine if the service-connected conditions meet the criteria for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's ratings for migraine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities have been restored, but the Board has found that the VA examinations used to reduce these ratings were inadequate due to not accounting for medication effects. The claims are remanded for new evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's lay testimony of continuous back pain since service is credible and sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for migraine headaches, lumbar strain, osteoarthritis of right hip, and osteoarthritis of left hip to his service-connected right knee disability. The decision is based on evidence showing a causal relationship between these conditions and his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of her degenerative disc disease was denied as the evidence did not show forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient medical opinions. The issues include PTSD, neck disorder, back disorder, left-hand disorder, bilateral foot disorders, and bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is denied as the evidence does not support an increase to a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, plantar fasciitis with heel exostoses/spur formation and osteoarthritis in the left foot, and plantar fasciitis with heel exostoses/spur formation and osteoarthritis in the right foot. The conditions are deemed to have been incurred during active service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and lumbosacral strain has been dismissed due to non-compliance with the claims processing rules.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome is remanded as there are procedural issues related to the VA examinations conducted.

The Board has remanded all claims due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, lower back, left knee, right ankle, and right hand disabilities. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for urinary incontinence, lumbar radiculopathy, and erectile dysfunction due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence and opinions.

The Veteran's cervical strain and left hip disability are not found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar disability.,However, the Veteran is granted a rating of 50 percent for migraines from May 7, 2021.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claims are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision and remands the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's low back condition is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for basic eligibility for enrollment in the VA healthcare system was dismissed as it was not addressed in the December 2024 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his authorized representative, and thus the appeal is dismissed.