The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and a kidney disorder, finding that both conditions are related to service. The veteran is also awarded a 10% evaluation for his pilonidal cyst from June 21, 1996.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence established chronic back pain during service and continuity of symptoms post-service, leading to the conclusion that degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was incurred in service. The kidney disorder claim was denied as there was no competent objective evidence linking it to the service-connected shell fragment wound.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, Kidney disorder (claimed as secondary to service connected shell fragment wound)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 7, 2000
- Citation
- 0000499
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0000499.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
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