Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disorder, including arthritis, thoracic spine scoliosis with degenerative changes, DDD, and chronic low back pain, is granted service connection. Service connection for a cervical strain is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his combat service, and the claim for migraine headaches, low back disability, and right knee disability are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD, bilateral knee disabilities, sleep apnea, and back condition. His TDIU is granted effective June 19, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability on a secondary basis and remanded the issue of service connection for OSA, to include on a secondary basis.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for a back disorder as new and relevant evidence was not received, despite previous denials.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to Chapter 33 educational assistance benefits at the 100 percent rate due to his service-connected back disability and discharge from active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a back disability, but has remanded his claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to insufficient evidence.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for a head injury, denied service connection for skin disabilities (including acne and eczema), back disability, right-hand condition, and seasonal allergies due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty or Reserve service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine and left hip conditions as secondary to her service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities, and has also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability have been granted.,An effective date of August 14, 2018, has been assigned for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's chronic thoracolumbar spine disability, which is believed to be related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and tinnitus need to be remanded due to duty to assist errors. The issues will be reviewed with consideration of evidence from the time of the November 2019 rating decision and within 90 days after the Board hearing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service hazardous noise exposure and has been granted service connection. The remaining claims of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral foot disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the Veteran's lumbar spine herniated disc, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and left foot drop due to a delay in VA providing timely neurosurgical care.

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and a back disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The Board also found that the Veteran's preexisting back condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective September 18, 2023. Effective that date, the Veteran also becomes eligible for DEA benefits and has an effective date of service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and cervical strain were denied. The effective date remains August 24, 2021.

The Veteran's need for supervision, protection, or instruction on a continuous basis due to his service-connected disabilities has been determined, granting him an increased Level 2 stipend under the PCAFC program.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hypertension and service connection for a back disability has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a 10% rating, as his blood pressure readings did not consistently exceed the required thresholds. For the back disability, the Board concluded that there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current condition is not related to service, including any in-service toxin exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder, as there is insufficient evidence regarding whether his current condition was aggravated by active duty service.