The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and associated bilateral lower radiculopathies have been found to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for the duration of the period on appeal, leading to a TDIU. An effective date of May 18, 2007, is granted for DEA benefits based on permanent total disability due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's SMC at the (o) rate is granted as he requires aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and associated bilateral lower radiculopathies have caused him physical limitations preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. The effective date of May 18, 2007, is granted for DEA benefits as the disabilities are permanent. SMC at the (o) rate is granted due to the Veteran's need for aid and attendance.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar Spine, Bilateral Lower Radiculopathies
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 14, 2026
- Citation
- A26003576
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26003576.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
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- Denied
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- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone is found to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the statutory housebound criteria.
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