BVA decisions by condition
Lumbar spine disability: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2018 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a lumbar spine disability issue in 794 decisions. It granted the lumbar spine disability issue in 2.0% of them, below the 19.9% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 6.7%, and remanded it in 85.6%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 23.2% were granted.
Decisions
794
2018–2026
Granted
2.0%
All conditions: 19.9%
Granted on the merits
23.2%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
85.6%
Denied: 6.7%
Lumbar spine disability outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 100 | 0.0% | 5.0% | 91.0% |
| 2019 | 111 | 1.8% | 9.0% | 82.0% |
| 2020 | 101 | 3.0% | 4.0% | 87.1% |
| 2021 | 80 | 2.5% | 8.8% | 82.5% |
| 2022 | 111 | 2.7% | 9.0% | 81.1% |
| 2023 | 91 | 2.2% | 4.4% | 86.8% |
| 2024 | 82 | 2.4% | 4.9% | 89.0% |
| 2025 | 78 | 1.3% | 5.1% | 91.0% |
Evidence in granted and denied lumbar spine disability decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the lumbar spine disability issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 221 | 53.8% | 16.1% | +37.8 pts |
| Lay statement | 713 | 26.3% | 8.3% | +18.0 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 309 | 29.2% | 20.0% | +9.2 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 57 | 25.0% | 23.0% | +2.0 pts |
| Combat service | 59 | 25.0% | 23.1% | +1.9 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 161 | 20.0% | 23.7% | −3.7 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 43.8% of the decisions that granted lumbar spine disability.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 50.0% of grants and 11.3% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often lumbar spine disability was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unfavorable VA exam | 654 | 27.5% | 11.1% | +16.3 pts |
| Negative nexus opinion | 441 | 29.0% | 18.4% | +10.6 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied lumbar spine disability
Most common reasons in grants
- Appellant withdrew appeal for increased rating1
- Board lacks jurisdiction to review withdrawn issue1
- Competent evidence indicates back disability related to active duty service1
- Evidence evenly balanced between VA and private opinions1
- Evidence was found to be evenly balanced between 20% and 40% ratings, leading to the grant of 40%1
- Examiner's opinion lacked rationale on painful motion1
- February 2020 dbq showed flexion to 25 degrees with pain on all ranges of motion, significantly limiting functional ability1
- No adequate discussion of material improvement or its maintenance under ordinary conditions1
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim2
- Board found evidence did not demonstrate severe functional loss or functional equivalent of ankylosis required for higher ratings1
- Board reviewed multiple VA examinations from feb 2014 to sep 20241
- Condition not shown to be related to active duty service1
- Consideration of flare-ups and functional impact1
- Denied service connection for low back disability1
- Evidence persuasively weighs against higher rating1
- Examinations noted pain with movement and some functional limitations, especially during flare-ups1
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent lumbar spine disability decisions
Granted
Appellant withdrew appeal for increased rating.; Board lacks jurisdiction to review withdrawn issue.
Reduction from 40% to 20% effective January 20, 2020, was improper.; RO failed to comply with 38 C.F.R. § 3.344 regarding rating reductions.; No adequate discussion of material improvement or its maintenance under ordinary conditions.
Probative evidence indicates thoracic spine disability due to in-service injury.; Veteran and spouse testimony regarding back pain since in-service injury found credible.; Treating physician attributed thoracic pain to in-service injury with 50% contribution.
Denied
Board reviewed multiple VA examinations from Feb 2014 to Sep 2024.; Examinations noted pain with movement and some functional limitations, especially during flare-ups.; Board found evidence did not demonstrate severe functional loss or functional equivalent of ankylosis required for higher ratings.; Pain limitations during flare-ups did not rise to the level for higher rating.; Veteran did not have ankylosis or IVDS.; Limitations due to pain considered within currently assigned 40% rating.
Flexion limited to 60 degrees with pain.; Consideration of flare-ups and functional impact.; 20% rating criteria met for the entire period.
Prior to April 29, 2016, forward flexion was 75 degrees, combined range of motion was 200 degrees, with no abnormal gait, spinal contour, or ankylosis.; From April 29, 2016, onwards, forward flexion was 50 degrees, combined range of motion was 150 degrees, with pain on weight bearing and tenderness, but no objective muscle spasm or guarding resulting in abnormal gait or spinal contour.; Symptoms did not approximate ankylosis or meet criteria for higher ratings under 38 C.F.R. §§ 4.40, 4.45, 4.59, or DeLuca.
Rules that apply to lumbar spine disability claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your lumbar spine disability case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a lumbar spine disability issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2018–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.