The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar spine, L4 spondylolysis with spina bifida, claimed as residuals of a lower back vertebral fracture, was incurred in service and granted service connection.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the veteran suffered a low back trauma during service from which he now has residuals of a vertebral fracture. The VA examiner reviewed the claims file and found no post-service treatment records but noted the January 1999 private treatment note, which indicated consistency with an inservice traumatic fracture.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine, L4, spondylolysis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 5, 2004
- Citation
- 0406023
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,242 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0406023.
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 Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased rating claims for lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, so the case is dismissed.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spondylosis and other conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea and irritable bowel syndrome, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Dismissed
Your appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of your appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran requested to withdraw all pending appeals due to his current 100% P&T status effective June 20, 2024.
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