The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and awarded an increased rating of 10 percent for post-traumatic headaches. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records show no specific reference to low back complaints or findings during active duty. However, the Veteran reported a fall from a truck resulting in injuries including a concussion and multiple abrasions, which may have caused his current low back disorder. For headaches, the Board found that while the Veteran experienced severe headaches up to four times per month, there was no evidence of prostrating attacks or multi-infarct dementia.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Disorder, Post-traumatic Headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 29, 2009
- Citation
- 0936992
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 0936992.
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 reduction of the disability rating for headaches from 50% to 30% is not proper and is void ab initio. Effective dates are denied for various service connection claims.,Multiple issues related to initial disability ratings, effective dates, and earlier effective dates for higher ratings are remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher ratings in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right knee disability and low back disorder. As a result, the cases are dismissed.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral knee disorders as these conditions are not shown to be related to military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and low back disorders due to potential errors in duty to assist. Additional medical opinions are needed to address causation.
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