The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 31, 2017, for the award of service connection for lumbosacral strain (back disorder) was denied as a matter of law.,Claims for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied with effective dates set at July 12, 2021.
The deciding factor: The earliest effective date possible for the award of service connection for lumbosacral strain (back disorder) is August 31, 2017, which is the day following the Veteran's separation from active duty.,Claims for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy were not filed until July 12, 2021, and thus effective dates cannot be earlier than this date.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain (back disorder), left lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 28, 2026
- Citation
- A26039403
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 A26039403.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied because the evidence did not show he required regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities, nor was he permanently bedridden. The Board found that while the Veteran had difficulty with medication management and some activities, he could still bathe/shower, eat, dress, etc., without assistance.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder pain and degenerative disc disease. Service connection for hypertension is denied. The ratings for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve, and right upper extremity radiculopathy lower radicular group are restored or maintained.
- Granted
The Veteran's heart disorder was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred in service.,For the entire appeal period, ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine or intervertebral disc syndrome with incapacitating episodes are not shown nor were they diagnosed.,Voiding dysfunction at most is manifested by nocturia occurring three to four times per night and daytime voiding between two to three hours.,There is no treatment for an active recurrence of vocal cord cancer during the appeal period, and there is no evidence of residuals of vocal cord cancer to include treatment therefor.,The service-connected adjustment disorder does not more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment.,The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities for the entire appeal period.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve, and the Board dismissed the appeal in its entirety.
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