Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left ankle strain, migraines, and tinnitus due to procedural issues. The low back condition, right foot condition, and current diagnoses have been denied as not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbar spine condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The lumbar spine condition was rated at 20 percent, while the left lower extremity radiculopathy remained at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine condition, left wrist condition, and left hand condition due to pre-decisional errors in obtaining evidence and developing his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, lower back disability, upper back disability, bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the back and right ankle, but denied service connection for LLE radiculopathy and plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his thoracolumbar spine condition and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including chronic sinusitis, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, thoracic outlet syndrome in both upper extremities, migraines, GERD, and low back disability, have been granted. The Veteran also received a 50% rating for his migraines.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and related issues was granted, including a lumbar spine disability, left leg radiculopathy, and left knee disability. Fees of 20% of past-due benefits were awarded to the attorney C.S. The decision is remanded for determining the reasonableness of these fees.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of increased ratings for Right Shoulder Disability and Lumbar Spine Disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding medication effects.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and a respiratory disability have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, right hip, and psychiatric disabilities (PTSD).

The Board has granted a motion for revision of the March 2010 rating decision, assigning an initial noncompensable rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease with retrolisthesis. The Veteran's disability is now rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision denying eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is not supported by adequate reasoning and must be remanded to allow for a thorough review, including obtaining medical opinions on whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the PCAFC program.

The Veteran's service connection for a back condition is granted as his current diagnosis of degenerative changes in the back has been conceded by the AOJ and he presented credible testimony regarding the continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back condition, neck condition, and left shoulder condition. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is granted a higher rating of 100 percent effective September 4, 2023.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his back disability is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. A new VA examination will be scheduled to determine the severity of his condition, including during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on multiple service-connected conditions have been denied as the necessary VA examinations were missed without good cause.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that there was no new and relevant evidence to support such a claim.

The July 2024 rating decision granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, with initial ratings of 10 percent each. The past-due benefits awarded are contested.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted a rating of 40 percent effective August 31, 2018. The right shoulder disability is granted a rating of 40 percent effective August 31, 2018.