The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is more likely due to aging and overuse, rather than service-connected knee conditions. The condition was not aggravated by his in-service knee problems.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current low back disorder is more likely a result of normal wear and tear from aging and overuse, rather than any service-connected knee conditions or incidents during active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the lumbar and thoracic spine, lumbosacral spinal stenosis, history of lumbar radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2010
- Citation
- 1031530
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 1031530.
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 issue of whether his low back disabilities are related to his service-connected left knee disabilities remains pending and requires further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbosacral spinal stenosis, disk bulges at L3-L4 and L5-S1, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral spinal stenosis was denied as the evidence did not show any additional impairment warranting a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral spinal stenosis, is causally related to his period of military service.
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