The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for spinal stenosis of the back with degenerative arthritis, to include associated radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided a negative nexus opinion based on the lack of chronicity of care for the back disability and a gap of 23 years since separation from the Veteran's military service, but the Board found the VA opinions inadequate as they failed to consider the Veteran's lay statement regarding the onset of symptoms during service. The July 2021 VA treatment record also supported the Veteran's claim.
- Claimed conditions
- spinal stenosis of the back with degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- March 19, 2026
- Citation
- A26024785
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 A26024785.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for readjudication of the claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, lower back scar, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability is denied.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed because the veteran died while it was pending. The decision does not affect the right of an eligible person to continue the appeal.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the veteran's COPD rating and related benefits but remanded decisions on specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.