The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic degenerative changes of the cervical and lumbar spine had its origins during service, granting the claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: Service medical records do not contain references to complaints or findings related to back disorders. However, a September 2000 VA examination report noted marked narrowing of the C3-4, C4-5, and C5-6 disc spaces and small traction osteophytes at those levels, as well as narrowing of the L3-4, L4-5, and L5-6 disc spaces with traction osteophytes. The examiner stated it was 'highly unlikely that the explosion in [the veteran's] hand in 1967 is etiologically related to the development of degenerative disc disease in his cervical and lumbar spine.'
- Claimed conditions
- post-traumatic degenerative changes of the cervical and lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 21, 2005
- Citation
- 0519953
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 0519953.
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
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