The Board finds that the veteran's low back disorder, manifested by facet arthritis at L5-S1, likely existed prior to service and was aggravated during active duty. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of trauma during service but noted a history of long-term low back pain localized at L5-S1 that developed over many years.
- Claimed conditions
- facet arthritis L5-S1, lumbrosacral pain disorder
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 2, 2008
- Citation
- 0833898
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 0833898.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his low back disability and associated radiculopathy was granted, with a 20 percent rating assigned for the lumbar spine condition. The claims for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were also granted, but only at 10 percent prior to June 23, 2014.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected due to his fear of hostile military activity during his Vietnam service.
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