The Veteran's service connection claims for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, stimulant use disorder) have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supported a link between these conditions and his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's symptoms were related to his military service based on his testimony and VA/VA examiner opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disorder (degenerative arthritis of the spine), acquired psychiatric disorder (posttraumatic stress disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder, moderate to severe, stimulant use disorder, moderate)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 17, 2026
- Citation
- A26014032
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 A26014032.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory disorder, and low back disorder due to inadequate medical opinions provided in the previous remand.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of low back disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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