The Veteran's service connection for mechanical back pain syndrome, lumbar sprain, facet joint arthropathy, degenerative disc disease, and right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted with an effective date of March 15, 2013. The Board also found a higher disability rating of 40 percent is warranted for the entire appeal period.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service connection claim was reopened based on new and material evidence submitted after his initial denial in April 2014. His effective date was granted as March 15, 2013, which aligns with when he provided additional relevant service treatment records that were previously unavailable.
- Claimed conditions
- Mechanical Back Pain Syndrome, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Sciatic Nerve
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26033148
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 A26033148.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied.,Both the lumbar spine condition and right lower extremity radiculopathy were rated at 40 percent, with no higher rating granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's depressive disorder due to another medical condition with mixed features is granted a rating of 50 percent.,Service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder are all granted.,Service connection for pain of lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathy, as the record does not include all relevant treatment records prior to back surgery.
- Partly granted
The Board denied higher ratings for tinnitus, OSA, and decreased anal sphincter tone of unknown etiology. The 20 percent rating was restored for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, and the appeal for restoration following the proposed reduction in evaluation for right knee flexion was dismissed.
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