The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disorders of the cervical and lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service helicopter crash during combat operations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy and provided credible evidence consistent with the circumstances of his service. His assertions of experiencing back pain following a helicopter crash were found to be consistent with the nature of his service, including his MOS as a helicopter pilot. The Board concluded that there is an approximate balance of competent favorable and unfavorable probative medical evidence regarding a link between the Veteran's current degenerative spine disorders and his period of active military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disorder of the Cervical Spine, Degenerative Disorder of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2011
- Citation
- 1143491
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 1143491.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection has been denied. The lumbar spine disorder is rated at 20% since December 5, 2011. Service connection for PTSD was also denied.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
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