Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's TDIU and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) are granted effective May 12, 2025. The decision is based on the combination of his service-connected disabilities rendering him unemployable as of that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a stomach disability, back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to conflicting evidence regarding their onset and relationship to service.

The Veteran's effective date for a 30 percent rating for right knee disability is set to October 2, 2021.,An effective date of October 2, 2021, and no earlier, has been granted for the 30 percent rating for left knee disability. The effective dates for right ankle and left ankle disabilities are not specified as they were denied or not applicable in this decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is aggravated by his service-connected knee or scar disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for lower back injury due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's pre-existing condition worsened during service or was aggravated by a service-connected knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been denied as he does not have a current disability of the right ear that meets VA criteria.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and cognitive and/or memory problems separate from PTSD are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease, l4-l5, with disc protrusion l1-l2, l2-l3, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to parachuting during active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back disorder, tinnitus, and ulcer condition due to insufficient evidence. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability was denied, and the appeal for service connection of right arm radiculopathy was granted. The Board found no evidence to support an earlier effective date or a higher rating for the back disability.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, and lumbar spine disabilities. These matters are being remanded to allow for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. Additionally, the Veteran's sleep apnea has also been granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and cervical strain, finding that these conditions began during active service and are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral shin splints.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea syndrome, frequent falls and unbalance, headaches, right shoulder disability, back disability, left hip disability, and left knee disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were linked to service.,VA examinations and etiology opinions found no link between the Veteran's current diagnoses of sleep apnea syndrome and frequent falls and unbalance with his military service.

The Board has restored the original ratings for hypertension and IVDS and lumbosacral strain, finding that reductions were improper due to lack of actual improvement in the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, removal of ribs, lumbar spine, and right hip disabilities as the Veteran did not timely file a Notice of Disagreement within one year after receiving the November 2017 rating decision.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for memory loss, erectile dysfunction, lower back condition, or any type of peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's STRs and post-service medical records do not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions.,There is no indication that the Veteran has a current disability for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder disorders due to a lack of a VA examination in connection with these claims. The Veteran reported an injury sustained during service which led to his current disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is caused by his active-duty service.