Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD, right knee joint osteoarthritis, left knee joint osteoarthritis, chest disability manifested by pain, left leg disability manifested by pain, right ankle disability manifested by pain, sleep apnea, and right ear hearing loss. The claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as the Veteran does not meet the regulatory threshold for a current hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, rated at 40 percent, has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since May 10, 2018.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for IVDS with degenerative arthritis and lumbar spondylosis, as well as radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, have been granted at a 20% rating each. The effective dates are not specified.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability rating was reduced from 20% to 10%, which is now restored.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and rating consideration due to issues with the lumbar L5-S1 degenerative disc disease other than IVDS.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations regarding his claimed knee, shoulder, and back disabilities. The Board finds that a VA examination should be conducted to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral knee, shoulder, or back disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment since May 15, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis with status post fracture of c6 spinous process (neck disability) and degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and vertebral fracture (back disability).

Service connection is granted for a lumbar disorder and a right ankle disability.,Service connection is denied for a left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a separate rating for insomnia as secondary to her service-connected left foot fracture, service connection for a neck disability, and service connection for a back disability due to potential errors in the prior decisions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and there is probative medical evidence linking this condition to his military service. For the back disability, the Veteran's claim is remanded as he did not undergo a VA examination and sufficient evidence does not exist for the Board to decide the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar disability, finding that it was incurred during his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, specifically for an addendum opinion addressing whether it was caused by service or aggravated by his service-connected right and/or left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathies of both lower extremities have been granted, with effective dates from December 3, 2020, to October 7, 2024.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a back disability due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's lay statements and medical records indicate he sustained an injury during active service, which may have contributed to his current condition.

The Veteran's DDD with lumbosacral strain was not manifested by limitation of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 60 degrees or less, a combined range of motion of 120 degrees or less, or muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour prior to May 20, 2024. As such, the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for DDD with lumbosacral strain is denied.

The Board has decided to remand several claims, including those for a compensable evaluation for service-connected hypothyroidism, service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, lower back disability, upper neck disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension. The reasons are that the VA examinations did not adequately address the Veteran's reported symptoms and potential aggravation of his conditions by his service-connected hypothyroidism.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed due to the Veteran's failure to timely file a Notice of Disagreement.,Service connection for back condition (intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine with retrolisthesis of L2 and L3) was denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates on all issues related to his service-connected conditions.