The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's current back disability, diagnosed as degenerative changes in the lumbar spine, is related to injuries sustained during service. Service connection for this condition is granted.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided both supporting and opposing the claim have been considered, with the opinion favoring the veteran finding more likely than not that the current back disability is related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes in the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- November 16, 2007
- Citation
- 0736201
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 0736201.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities other than PTSD. The Veteran's SMC claim was also denied as he did not meet the statutory criteria for housebound status.
- Denied
The Veteran's low back disability was evaluated at 20 percent prior to January 11, 1998. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for this period.
- Denied
The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including arthritis and malignant paraganglioma tumor of the sacrum. The current disabilities are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Board has determined that service connection is granted for degenerative changes in the lumbar spine and osteoarthritis of the right knee, finding them at least as likely as not due to an in-service ship collision.
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