The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to events in service and grants service connection for a back disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during service, combined with competent medical opinions supporting this nexus, outweighed negative VA opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, invertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), degenerative arthritis of the spine, lumbar facet joint pain, lumbar discogenic pain syndrome, lumbar spondylosis, myofascial pain syndrome, spinal stenosis of lumbosacral region, chronic mechanical low back pain associated with degenerative changes, degenerative disc disease, spondylotic changes at L4-L5 and L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 12, 2026
- Citation
- A26013367
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 A26013367.
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 lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, including degenerative disc disease and scoliosis, due to lack of current disability evidence.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examinations related to the Veteran's lower back condition and surgical scars are inadequate, necessitating a remand for further evaluation.
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