The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder and granted it, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support the conclusion that his pre-existing condition was aggravated by military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner could not resolve when the Veteran's disc problems became clinically significant but found it likely that they began sometime/ anytime between his pre-military injury and the September 2005 MRI, which occurred 16 years after separation from service. The Board considered this as sufficient to rebut the presumption of aggravation during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease, Degenerative Disc Disease
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 27, 2013
- Citation
- 1327394
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 1327394.
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.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance claims have been granted effective from November 23, 2019.,The Board has also remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims for his lumbar and cervical spine conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and requires an additional VA examination for the Veteran's back disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found new and relevant evidence in support of the Veteran's previously denied service-connection claim for a back condition to include degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease. The case is being remanded for further review.
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