CAVC Case 24-4510: Back
CAVCReal U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) decision · 2025-09-09 · PIETSCH, Judge
This is a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims — the federal court that reviews Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions, one level above the Board. Court decisions can vacate, reverse, or affirm what the Board did.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
2026 base rates, all ratings (veteran alone)
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Conditions Claimed
BackCervicalShoulderTDIUArthritisRadiculopathy
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Issues on Appeal
SMCBack ConditionService ConnectionReopen
Why It Was Decided This Way
PIETSCH, Judge : the appellant ,through counsel,appeals an April 4, 2024,Board of Veterans'Appeals (Board)decision that (1) denied service connection for upper extremity neurological disability;and (2)found no new and material evidence to reopen claims for service connectionfor a left shoulder disability,lumbar spine disorder,andneuropathyof the lower extremities.
1 The Board favorably found that new and material evidencehad been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability.
For the reasons that follow,the Court will vacate the part of the Board's decision that denied service connection for upper extremity neurological disability and found no new and material evidence to reopen claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability,lumbar spine disorder,and neuropathy of the lower extremities,and the Court will remand the matters for further proceedings consistent with this decision.
In a September 2017 rating decision,the RO found no new and material evidence to reopen a claim for service connection for a back condition.
In an October 2018 rating decision,the RO denied service connection for upper extremity neurological disability and found no new and material evidence to reopen service- connection claims for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and bilateral shoulder disabilities.
The RO continued to deny service connection for a lumbar spine disorder,bilateral lower extremity neuropathy,bilateral upper extremity neurological disability, and bilateral shoulder disorders,all on the basis that the conditions were not related to military service.
The RO did not mention whether new and material evidence hadbeenreceived to reopen service-connection claims for a left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disorder,or bilateral lower extremity neuropathy.
April 2024 Board Decision In the April 2024 decision on appeal, the Board noted that all issues on appeal had been remanded in May 2023 for the RO to consider evidence in the first instance.
Authorities Cited
Denial Type
Non Denial Outcome
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