The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. After reviewing all available evidence, including private treatment records, VA examinations, and the Veteran's testimony regarding continuity of symptomatology, the Board found sufficient evidence to establish a medical nexus between the Veteran's current disability and his in-service injury. Therefore, the claim is granted.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's testimony about continuity of symptoms since service was credible and corroborated by private treatment records and VA examinations, which established a medical nexus between the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and his in-service injury.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- December 28, 2009
- Citation
- 0948565
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 0948565.
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.
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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.
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- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40% prior to September 28, 2018. From that date, the rating was increased to 50%. The earlier effective date for TDIU is denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for a higher level of SMC was denied as he does not meet the criteria for any additional levels of SMC based on his service-connected disabilities.
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