Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The appeal regarding service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is dismissed. Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right shin splints, left shin splints, and hypertension. The claims for skin disability, headache disability, Type II diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right foot pes planus, and left foot pes planus are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for residual, scar left medial thigh, status post gunshot wound is granted. The Veteran's PTSD with AUD, Moderate is rated at 70 percent and TDIU based on PTSD alone is granted. Service connection for hypertension, GERD, migraines, COPD, back disability, neck disability, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for gunshot wound right buttock with sciatic nerve involvement (to include peripheral neuropathy right leg/foot), gunshot wound, left thigh, multiple painful scars bilateral lower extremities, and residuals, scar right buttock and lateral leg is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, low back condition, and vertigo. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred during active duty or ACDUTRA.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and awarded separate ratings of 20 percent each for dislocated semilunar cartilage of the right knee and right knee instability, but denied an increased rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with limitation of motion.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the previously denied claims of vision, dental trauma, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, low back condition, pes planus and plantar fasciitis, right knee condition, left knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss. These claims are being remanded to the AOJ for further adjudication.

An effective date of December 4, 2017, but no earlier, is granted for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) and left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve). An initial evaluation higher than 20 percent for these conditions is denied.,An effective date of December 4, 2017, but no earlier, is granted for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria. An earlier effective date for service connection for low back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran requires aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities alone.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective date of this decision is July 27, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not manifest in or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease with advanced spondylosis and degenerative scoliosis, was caused by an in-service injury. The bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is also due to his thoracolumbar spine disability.,Service connection for adjustment disorder and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his back disability and right knee limitation of flexion were denied as the evidence did not show that either condition warranted a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 3, 2025, for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease other than IVDS, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis of thoracic and lumbar spine is denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for this condition is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that worsening of the condition did not occur within one year prior to May 26, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's tinnitus is also found to be related to his in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran does not demonstrate current hearing loss.

The Veteran's compression fracture of lumbar vertebra is related to an in-service accident and service connection has been granted.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and right knee condition secondary to left knee ligamentous strain are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, low back disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected low back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitated the need for aid and attendance, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for lumbosacral strain and persistent depressive disorder were partially granted, with a 40 percent rating for the back condition prior to July 21, 2025. The claim for an increase in rating for the depression was denied. The case is remanded due to the Veteran raising the issue of entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for lower back disability, erectile dysfunction (ED), headaches, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic sinusitis, vertigo, neck disability, right upper and left upper extremity radiculopathy, voiding dysfunction, pseudo folliculatis barbae, right wrist pain, left wrist pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, and right ear hearing loss.