The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as left leg radiculopathy. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is found to have its onset in service, while his left leg radiculopathy is found to be causally connected to his lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability had its clinical onset during service and continues to cause symptoms such as pain. The right hip disability was not found to have its clinical onset in service or be related to disease or injury in service, but is considered a secondary condition due to his already service-connected cervical spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, Left leg radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2011
- Citation
- 1136167
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 1136167.
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 Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) due to weight gain caused by her service-connected cervical degenerative disc disease, lumbar facet arthrosis, left knee disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision resolves all reasonable doubts in favor of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, left leg radiculopathy, bilateral restless leg syndrome, and obstructive and central sleep apnea due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not obtaining adequate medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a new examination and retrospective opinion due to deficiencies in previous VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and eligibility for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation benefits, as well as an earlier effective date for a disability rating.
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