The Board has granted effective dates of July 26, 2023 for the awards of service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, as well as external popliteal radiculopathy. The Veteran's left knee strain and patellar instability have also been awarded an effective date of July 26, 2023.,An initial 50 percent rating has been granted for migraines.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran experienced neurological symptoms related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability prior to July 26, 2023. The Board found it reasonable to infer a claim for service connection at that time as part of the underlying increased rating claim for the back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, Left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, Right lower extremity external popliteal radiculopathy, Left lower extremity external popliteal radiculopathy, Left knee strain, Left knee patellar instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 10, 2026
- Citation
- A26021232
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 A26021232.
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 Board has granted service connection for cervical spine strain, right wrist sprain, right knee strain, left knee strain, and right ankle strain. The disabilities are all deemed to have begun during the Veteran's active duty.
- Denied
The Veteran's VR&E benefits were denied as she did not have an employment handicap and was found to be employable with her current skills, experience, and education. The appeal must be denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee strains with shin splints due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. A new VA examination is required to assess the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities, including during flare-ups.
- Granted
Effective dates of June 4, 2022 are granted for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and disc disease, IVDS, spondylosis, scoliosis and healed compression fracture of T7, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity femoral radiculopathy.,Effective date of October 5, 2023 is granted for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
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