The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing low back disorder was aggravated by his military service, and thus service connection is granted.
The deciding factor: A VA examiner concluded that the Veteran had a pre-existing low back disability from a lifting injury prior to service but could not definitively state whether this condition was aggravated during or by his military service due to lack of X-ray reports before service entry.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease with spondylitic changes at L4-5, lumbosacral spine condition
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 12, 2011
- Citation
- 1134018
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 1134018.
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 Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine condition, left wrist condition, and left hand condition due to pre-decisional errors in obtaining evidence and developing his claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address incomplete service treatment records and clarify his periods of active duty, including his time in the Marine Corps Reserve. The rating for tinnitus remains denied as it already meets the maximum schedular evaluation.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee and lumbosacral spine conditions, attributing them to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial increased rating for a left knee strain and a left ankle disability, as well as service connection claims for various conditions due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
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