The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial. The Board also determined that his pre-existing congenital spina bifida occulta was aggravated by his military service, resulting in additional superimposed low back disability.
The deciding factor: Dr. R. M.'s opinion established that the veteran's current low back condition is related to his military service and resulted from aggravation of his pre-existing congenital spina bifida occulta.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the low back, Congenital spina bifida occulta
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2008
- Citation
- 0822888
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 0822888.
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 claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened, but the Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the appellant's congenital defects were aggravated by his service, specifically his periods of ADT. The examiner is also asked to clarify whether any current low back condition other than spina bifida occulta and spondylolysis was caused by these periods of service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent, but no higher, for PTSD prior to May 18, 2012 is granted. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for DDD of the low back, service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected back disorder, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and bipolar disorder.
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