Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant records and providing adequate opinions regarding his claimed conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain SSA records, provide a VA examination for left knee condition, and provide an adequate opinion regarding the back condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a back condition and bilateral foot condition due to the Veteran's active duty in the Navy aboard the USS Shelton. The decision is based on the need for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals, leading to the dismissal of all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for genital herpes is denied as the highest schedular rating of 60% has been achieved. The claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities is also denied due to the presence of other service-connected conditions and the fact that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a combined 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for back disability, left and right knee instability, and left and right knee DJD were denied. The evidence did not support higher ratings based on the criteria provided in the rating schedule.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for a low back brace used in 2020 is granted because the evidence shows that the brace caused wear and tear to his clothing.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right hip disorder with associated right lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder alone does not result in functional impairment that precludes him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus TDIU for a single service-connected disability is denied.

The Veteran's combined disability rating was 100% from February 6, 2006. The Veteran died in February 2020 and had been receiving a total disability rating for at least 10 years immediately preceding his death. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are granted.

The Board denied compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease status post lumbar fusion, finding that VA's treatment did not result from carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, or similar instance of fault.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been readjudicated, and the effective dates for his service-connected disabilities are set at April 29, 2003.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's back disability, including whether it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right leg, left leg, left knee, and left ankle conditions due to errors in prior decisions.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder disorder and lumbar spine disorder as there is no current disability found during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's request for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. A VA examination is needed to determine if his service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that his current condition did not originate in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service or to his service-connected disabilities. The claims for hypertension and migraine headaches are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left knee disability is dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and bilateral hip acetabular tears, which are found to be proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal for total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied because he did not provide the necessary VA Form 21-8940, which is required to determine if his employment as a college professor constitutes substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the evidence indicated the Veteran was still employed and therefore did not meet the criteria for TDIU.