The Board found that the veteran's chronic mechanical low back pain is causally related to his service, but concluded that his diagnosed degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (L4-5 and L5-S1) is not related to his military service.
The deciding factor: Competent medical evidence indicated a causal relationship between the veteran's in-service back problems and his current chronic mechanical low back pain. However, there was insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between his diagnosed degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (L4-5 and L5-S1) and his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic mechanical low back pain, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (L4-5 and L5-S1)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 30, 2007
- Citation
- 0723453
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 0723453.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's diagnosed chronic mechanical low back pain and spondylolisthesis are related to a December 1992 in-service motor vehicle accident, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current low back disorders are related to his inservice injury. The case will be remanded for this purpose.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the appellant's low back disability warrants a 10 percent evaluation, effective from March 24, 1998.
- Denied
The Board found that the veteran does not have L5-S1 radiculopathy and denied his claim for higher disability evaluation for chronic mechanical low back pain. The current rating of 20% is appropriate given the veteran's symptoms.
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