The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, granted an increased evaluation for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left buttock (to 20%), and denied an increased evaluation for shell fragment wounds to both arms.
The deciding factor: VA medical opinions determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left buttock. The VA examiner in September 2000 found no evidence linking the back disorder to the inservice injury.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, shell fragment wounds to both arms
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 16, 2003
- Citation
- 0312940
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 0312940.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding a positive nexus to the Veteran's active duty service.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal of proposed rating reductions for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy, left lower extremity, due to procedural defects in the Veteran's notice of disagreement. The issue regarding a compensable rating for migraine headaches was remanded.
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