Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the service-connected lumbar spine disability, effective March 7, 2022. The decision is based on evidence showing an increase in symptoms during this period.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease with lumbar herniation. The Board finds that there was a duty-to-assist error and remands the case to obtain additional treatment records related to his back condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition and whether his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities caused or aggravated obesity, which in turn may have caused his back condition.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions and ratings. The appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, have been granted service connection. The initial ratings for the knee disabilities are set at 10 percent each.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain but denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is linked to his active duty, while OSA did not have its onset during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic low back disability in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that the current back disability is not related to any disease, injury or incident in service.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder tendonitis and bursitis with snapping syndrome, status post arthroscopic surgery. The claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy (claimed as spondylolisthesis, back) is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine disability and service connection for sleep apnea due to the need for further development, including obtaining new medical opinions regarding the severity of the lumbar spine disability and the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, and lumbar scar. The remand includes obtaining updated VA examinations to assess the severity of these conditions without the ameliorative effects of medication, as well as determining appropriate effective dates for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were granted with effective dates starting from December 1, 2016.,An earlier effective date for femoral radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was also granted on this decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn all pending appeals, including those related to service connection for various conditions and a rating for migraines and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period, and therefore, his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy contributed to his death from congestive heart failure. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria of having a combined rating of at least one year immediately preceding death.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is granted with a 50% rating effective October 9, 2024. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and the claims for service connection for prostate condition and esophagus disorder are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability is granted, effective July 19, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar spine disability. Service connection is denied for right knee disability.

The Veteran's lower back disability and radiculopathy were rated at 40 percent, but the Board found no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and the RO has granted service connection for PTSD, degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, left knee strain (claimed as left knee injury), left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral pes planus, and asthma effective July 11, 2023.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded.