Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has denied service connection for left hip, low back, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's claim of service connection for left eye blindness is being remanded.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for service-connected IBS, service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, and service connection for a right foot disorder require further examination and consideration due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of evidence regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to outstanding private treatment records from Kaiser Permanente and the Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center.

The reduction of the disability rating for headaches from 50% to 30% is not proper and is void ab initio. Effective dates are denied for various service connection claims.,Multiple issues related to initial disability ratings, effective dates, and earlier effective dates for higher ratings are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, did not cause him to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 24, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee, left and right hip, and back conditions based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the July 2025 decision denying service connection for various conditions, including anxiety and PTSD, hypertension, sleep apnea, right hip condition, low back disability, and bilateral ankle disability is vacated. The issues of service connection are being remanded due to failure to consider secondary theories and adjudicate an effective date prior to November 14, 2022 for the assignment of a 10 percent disability rating for left hip flexion.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining complete STRs and military personnel records.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability but remanded the issue of service connection for GERD due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's back disability may be service-connected, but requires further examination and opinion to determine if it is incurred in or due to his active duty.

The Veteran's back condition is granted as direct service connection, with the Board finding that his symptoms began during and have continued since service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current lumbosacral strain began during his active service and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right hip conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, but the claims for left foot, right foot, left knee, right knee, right leg and left leg conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain (claimed as low back pain). The Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four conditions (headaches, GERD, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral pes planus) have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including sinusitis, back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and right wrist disability are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board requires VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was restored to 20 percent, effective February 24, 2020. The Veteran's depressive disorder and scars were all granted increased ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for various degenerative arthritis conditions of the Veteran's lumbar spine, hips, knees, and elbows. These conditions are presumed to have onset within one year of discharge from active service.

The Board has determined that the RO committed pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in failing to provide a VA examination for service connection claims and remands these issues.