The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates for service connection awards of lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, muscle spasm, and atrophy; right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve; and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.
The deciding factor: The effective dates for service connection were not earlier than August 8, 2023 due to lack of a pending claim prior to that date and because the secondary conditions were granted based on the underlying primary low back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, muscle spasm, and atrophy, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 6, 2026
- Citation
- A26001138
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26001138.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
Your initial evaluations for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve have been granted, but your appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed all issues on appeal as the May 2024 rating decision was a purely ministerial implementation of the April 2024 Board decision.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as their associated radiculopathy conditions, are remanded for further development. The fibromyalgia with headaches claim is also remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected RUE brachial plexus injury and lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve should be rated higher than their current noncompensable (0 percent) ratings.
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