The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and finds that it is warranted. The Veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative back disease and herniated discs are found to be related to his in-service injury, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence supports a link between the Veteran's in-service low back injury and his current degenerative back disease and herniated discs.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative back disease, Herniated disc
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 11, 2012
- Citation
- 1242226
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 1242226.
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: Denied
The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, herniated disc, IVDS and spinal stenosis is rated at 40 percent since August 19, 2020. The appeal period did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's disability ratings for low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been reduced from 40% and 10%, respectively, to 20% and 0%. The reduction was based on improvements shown in recent VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected back conditions, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective date for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is also being remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, including DDD, arthritis, and a herniated disc, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.
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