The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for mood disorder due to chronic pain as secondary to his service-connected conditions of residuals right radial fracture, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is a current diagnosis of mood disorder due to chronic pain and established a nexus between this condition and his service-connected conditions by resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- mood disorder due to chronic pain, residuals right radial fracture, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2026
- Citation
- A26017423
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 A26017423.
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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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding inadequate medical opinions due to failure to consider all relevant evidence.
- Granted
For the period prior to October 29, 2021, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on housebound status is denied.,For the entire appeal period, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) based on need of regular aid and attendance is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an effective date of December 10, 2015 for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The decision also grants earlier effective dates for these benefits.
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