The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disabilities, finding that his congenital lumbarization at L5 with early degenerative changes existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military service. The remaining low back conditions are considered superimposed diseases that began post-service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's congenital anomaly of the lumbar spine and degenerative changes on a July 1953 x-ray were part of a long-lasting disease process, with no evidence of permanent worsening beyond natural progression during service. The remaining low back conditions are considered superimposed diseases.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbarization at L5 with degenerative changes, Multilevel degenerative changes at L4-5, Degenerative disc disease and muscle spasm of the lumbar spine, L4-5 disc extrusion deforming the thecal sac and left side lateral recess stenosis impinging on existing left L5 nerve root, Lumbar paravertebral myositis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 1, 2013
- Citation
- 1321114
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 1321114.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Denied
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- Denied
The Board found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension benefits based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being permanently housebound.
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