The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's current discogenic disease, lumbar spine is service-connected and not related to any exposure basis or presumption. The decision also notes that there was no clear evidence to the contrary regarding a continuity of symptoms since service.
The deciding factor: The Board found the veteran's statements concerning an injury during combat in Vietnam and a continuity of symptoms since service were credible, leading to the conclusion that his current back disability had its origins in service.
- Claimed conditions
- discogenic disease, lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 4, 2002
- Citation
- 0203028
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 0203028.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination. The issues include increased ratings for lumbar myositis, discogenic disease, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, as well as TDIU and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities, including a request for increased rating for flat feet, as well as claims for various other conditions. The case is being remanded for additional development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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