The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than September 27, 2006 for various disabilities have been denied.,Effective dates prior to September 27, 2006 were not granted for the service connection grants and disability ratings of several conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that no effective dates earlier than September 27, 2006 could be established based on the facts found.
- Claimed conditions
- L2-3 laminectomy and L2 hemilaminectomy with L5-S1 decompression and failed back syndrome (low back disability), Scar, midline back, Scars of the left lumbar area (scar #1), Scars of the right lumbar area (scars #1 and #2), Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, femoral nerve, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, femoral nerve, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, sciatic nerve, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, sciatic nerve, Degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis (neck disability), Scar of the left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 21, 2026
- Citation
- A26005207
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 A26005207.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The low back disability was granted a 40 percent rating, but no higher. Other conditions had their ratings denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and his scar, midline back, is rated as noncompensable. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, sciatic nerve, to obtain a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.