The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder, including lumbar disc herniation and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine. The decision finds that his current back condition is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected bilateral knee disability.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the veteran's current back disorder was aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disorder, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disorder, lumbar disc herniation, degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2002
- Citation
- 0217482
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 0217482.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disorder to obtain additional medical evidence and ensure that the Veteran is afforded every possible consideration.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a low back disorder was dismissed as the RO granted service connection in a November 2023 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and traumatic brain injury due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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