Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board has remanded the claims for right knee condition, left hip bursitis, low back condition, and left ankle condition due to insufficient examination opinions addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder and bilateral knee disorders due to duty to assist errors prior to the rating decision on appeal. The Veteran is not prejudiced as a remand is necessary to correct these errors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and foraminal stenosis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right ankle strain are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA will obtain a new opinion from an appropriate clinician to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate notice and an inadequately supported medical opinion, requiring further review of eligibility for PCAFC benefits based on need for personal care services related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided for the Veteran's cervical and lumbosacral strains, left elbow strain, right elbow strain, and left shoulder impingement are inadequate. The Board also notes that there is no evidence of service connection for hypertension in this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as additional VA examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of TDIU was denied as there were no unadjudicated claims for TDIU prior to April 28, 2023. The current effective date is the earliest possible based on the schedular criteria.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for low back disability, right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica, sinusitis as due to chemical exposure, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee strain and lumbosacral strain, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and the in-service injuries.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The claims for service connection have not been decided.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as his range of motion was within the limits specified for a 10% rating.

The appeal concerning the service connection for various conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lower back disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities caused his lower back disability.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his death from prostate cancer.

The Veteran's asbestosis is rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum rating under DC 6833. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome with L5 spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating under DC 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5243. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating under DC 8520. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating under DC 8520. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea, thoracolumbar spine disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability has been granted. The rating assigned is 10 percent for chronic allergic rhinitis effective October 9, 2023.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of June 10, 2021, but no earlier, for a 40 percent initial rating for service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis has been granted. The effective date is based on the date of receipt of the formal claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of low back and right knee disabilities due to improper filing deadlines.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for other specified personality disorder and alcohol use disorder, severe, in remission is dismissed. The claim for service connection of thoracolumbar spine or lower back pain condition is denied.