The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, characterized by degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine, was aggravated during his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.
The deciding factor: Medical opinions associating the veteran's in-service low back problems with his post-service low back diagnosis support the finding that the pre-existing disability was aggravated beyond its natural progression during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative 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
- September 2, 2004
- Citation
- 0424456
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 0424456.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on multiple issues, including service connection for a left elbow disability and rating increases for his spine disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, finding that the February 2004 rating decision is not final and there are no records in the claims file that can be construed as a formal or informal claim for TDIU prior to March 5, 2001.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine condition and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disorder and sciatica are found to be related to service, while his right knee disorder is not. Service connection for the low back and sciatic nerve disorders is granted, but service connection for the right knee disorder is denied.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.