Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, unspecified psychosis, arthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease, multilevel spinal stenosis, and arthritis of the cervical spine and degenerative disc disease. The diagnoses are linked to in-service physical assaults.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, back disability, and neck disability due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues related to erectile dysfunction and bowel dysfunction.

For the period prior to October 29, 2021, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on housebound status is denied.,For the entire appeal period, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) based on need of regular aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve, effective January 12, 2024. Attorney fees are eligible based on past due benefits awarded in this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee and back disorders due to outstanding private treatment records not obtained. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the service connection for a lumbar condition and left knee condition, resulting in the dismissal of these issues.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, right hand disability, left hip disability, TBI, and left knee disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.,Specifically, the VA examination in December 2019 determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss and low back strain claims are remanded for further evaluation. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the low back strain claim requires additional examination to determine its severity.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck condition and a low back condition, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The appeal of the proposed reduction in disability rating for lumbar decompression and fusion with lumbosacral strain is dismissed. The Veteran's initial higher disability ratings for sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities are denied, but he is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's mumps residuals claim is denied as there is no probative evidence of an in-service infection or related skin issues.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and left leg injury claims are denied due to lack of service connection. The COPD claim is granted based on presumptive exposure to environmental hazards during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and right shoulder rotator cuff strain, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic sinusitis and remanded the claim for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and will remand the case for further action.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is March 1, 2007.,However, the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy claim remains pending and requires further review to determine its effective date.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates of service connection for his claimed disabilities, including multi-level bulging lumbar discs, left knee tenosynovitis, right knee tenosynovitis, migraines, and tinnitus. The earliest effective date allowed under VA law is August 25, 2024.

The Board denied entitlement to revision of the September 2017 and July 2018 rating decisions concerning denial of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance, finding no CUE.