Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for brain cancer, low back disability, and cervical spine disability due to a pre-decisional error in failing to obtain a radiation dose estimate from the Under Secretary for Health. The Veteran's military service aboard USS ENTERPRISE is considered relevant to his exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The appeals are either not granted or the maximum rating has already been assigned.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient credible evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, but his service-connected persistent depressive disorder alone rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's rating for residuals status post lumbar fusion was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent effective October 25, 2023. The reduction was granted as there was no evidence of actual improvement in the Veteran's condition prior to this date.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain (back disability), and obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence shows current diagnoses of these conditions and that symptoms started during service and have continued since service separation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for breathing issues and bilateral hearing loss was dismissed. His claims for GERD, low back disability (disc protrusion at L5-S1), and sleep apnea were all granted.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, RLE sciatica, LLE sciatica, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, hypothyroidism, alopecia, and solar urticaria. These claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that the initial ratings assigned for psoriatic arthritis of the upper and lower extremities, as well as service connection for a cervical spine disorder, need to be remanded due to incomplete evidence. The Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ADT) and inactive duty for training (IDT) must be confirmed, and all relevant medical records should be obtained.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on his service connection claims.

The Veteran's hypertension, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The lumbar spine disability has also been granted but the effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is proximately due to or has undergone any incremental increase in disability due to his service-connected mental health, back, and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right ankle disorder.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection for gastroenteritis, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain, right knee strain and hemorrhoids. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of a lumbosacral strain. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of a left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of right knee strain. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of hemorrhoids. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bronchitis with emphysema and a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis with IVDS and strain of the lumbar spine due to an error in failing to address VA's duty to assist by obtaining records held by a Federal department or agency.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain has been withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders due to lack of evidence supporting current diagnoses.

The Board found the evidence persuasive against finding that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected duodenal ulcer, pancreatitis, and cervical spondylosis with IVDS, degenerative disc disease, and stenosis. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, as well as right lower extremity radiculopathy, are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ must obtain all outstanding private medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, as evidenced by his inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, and manage his daily medications. The Board has granted entitlement to SMC(l).