The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disorder and has determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran is now entitled to an increased rating of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction.
The deciding factor: New medical records submitted since the last final decision have provided sufficient evidence to reopen the claim, and the preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain had its onset during service. However, there is no evidence linking his current degenerative disc disease or herniated disc condition to any incident or finding recorded during service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease or a herniated disc of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 16, 2009
- Citation
- 0934636
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 0934636.
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 service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a lumbosacral strain, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that it is related to his in-service injury. The claimant did not contest this decision.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and IVDS. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury during active duty and his continuous symptoms since then.
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