The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing scoliosis of the thoracic spine was aggravated by service, leading to a grant of service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that while scoliosis itself did not increase the incidence of low back pain in long-term populational studies, people who drove trucks as a vocation had an increased incidence of low back pain. The veteran's current symptoms were attributed to his vocational demands and decreased flexibility due to his pre-existing scoliosis.
- Claimed conditions
- scoliosis of the thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 6, 2003
- Citation
- 0311810
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,710 · Granted: 15% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0311810.
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: Granted
The Veteran's pre-existing scoliosis disability was aggravated during service, and the Board has granted her claim for service connection based on aggravation.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that more development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back disability, including whether his scoliosis is a congenital defect or disease. The case is being remanded for further examination and review.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's thoracic spine disability has resulted in painful limitation of motion but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected scoliosis of the thoracic spine.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's scoliosis of the thoracic spine and adjustment disorder with chronic depressive mood are granted service connection due to aggravation by a service-connected back disability. Headaches are remanded for further evaluation.
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