Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lower back disability and his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to various duty-to-assist errors identified in the RO's decisions.

The Board denied service connection for left and right wrist conditions, diabetes mellitus type II, lumbar spine condition, GERD, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in duty to assist and new evidence received. The issues include alcohol use disorder, lumbar spine disability, left and right knee disabilities, and a right eye disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding aggravation and secondary service connection. The Veteran's back disability may be aggravated by his service-connected diabetic neuropathy, right hand cramps are related to toxic exposure risk activities, and dystonia is related to herbicide agent exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as spondylosis and sacroiliitis with degenerative changes, had its onset during his period of INACDUTRA. As such, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective May 10, 2015. He also has a permanent and total disability due to his service-connected disabilities, qualifying him for SMC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after active duty, and no credible injury or symptoms in service. The Board also found the VA opinion based on inaccurate history to be unreliable.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to April 30, 2025, for the award of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, spondylolisthesis and dextroscoliosis, as well as initial increased disability ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for eligibility to have attorney fees paid due to the assignment of a 30 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral knee conditions in the May 2024 rating decision. The other issues were granted, but not based on past-due benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Board found that the weight of the evidence did not support the claim and thus denied it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including back disability and left leg disability, do not meet the criteria for service connection based on evidence of record. The appeal is REMANDED to allow further development.

The June 1, 1982 rating decision denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability. The November 6, 2009 rating decision granted service connection and assigned a 20% rating effective April 13, 2009.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claims at this time.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are all granted as service-connected. The claim for congestive heart failure is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition and headaches on a direct basis. The claim of secondary service connection for headaches is being remanded.,There was no in-service event, injury, or disease related to the Veteran's current back condition or headaches.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of heart disability, type II diabetes mellitus, and back disability due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and low back disability due to duty-to-assist errors, inadequate medical opinions, and new evidence received since the last decision.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a lumbar disability due to a duty to assist error, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's condition was incurred in or related to his military service.