The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his active duty military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his active duty military service. The Board resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran and finds that a relationship between the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and his active military service is established by continuity of symptoms since service.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, disc bulges, mechanical low back pain, radicular symptoms
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 19, 2012
- Citation
- 1221309
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1221309.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, which is secondary to her degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, has been remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Board found that VA did not obtain private medical records from Hiro Chiropractic and Springfield Family Physicians, who treated the Veteran during the period on appeal.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of gastrointestinal disability other than umbilical hernia (including irritable bowel syndrome) and back disability. The Board found new evidence relevant to these claims.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for reductions in ratings for post operative left femur fracture with leg length discrepancy and chondromalacia residuals, and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for mechanical low back pain, musculoskeletal neck and cervical spine, and ear condition (such as earaches) based on the evidence showing that these conditions had their onset during active service with continuity of symptoms to the present.
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