The Veteran's service connection for IVDS, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and bilateral knee osteoarthritis is granted. Secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition as secondary to these conditions is also granted. The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of back pain, insomnia, and other related issues have been found to be directly related to her active duty service, warranting direct service connection for IVDS, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis. Secondary service connection was granted as the acquired psychiatric condition is linked to these service-connected conditions. The Veteran's sinusitis has been rated at 30 percent based on three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.
- Claimed conditions
- IVDS (Intervertebral Disc Syndrome), lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, an acquired psychiatric condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- February 10, 2026
- Citation
- A26012462
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 A26012462.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were granted effective from July 1, 2020.
- Denied
The Board found the evidence persuasive against finding that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected duodenal ulcer, pancreatitis, and cervical spondylosis with IVDS, degenerative disc disease, and stenosis. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, and the case is inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection regarding cervical strain with IVDS, spinal fusion, and spinal stenosis was dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.
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