The Veteran's low back disorder, diagnosed as DJD, was not incurred or aggravated during service and is presumed to have existed prior to service. His congenital anomalies of lumbarization, sacralization, and facet joint sclerosis are considered preexisting conditions that did not increase in severity during service.
The deciding factor: The examiner found no evidence of chronic back pain other than a mention in electronic records from 2005. The Veteran's low back condition was first diagnosed many years after service and is presumed to have existed prior to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the low back
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2013
- Citation
- 1334713
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 1334713.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for DJD of the low back was reopened and granted. However, his claim for service connection for a migraine disorder was denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's increased disability rating for DJD of the low back was granted, and a separate compensable disability rating for post operative residuals of hemorrhoidectomies with anal stricture was also granted. The Board found that referral for an extraschedular rating was not warranted.
- Denied
The Veteran's low back disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, but the VA examiner found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating due to limitations in range of motion and pain.
- Granted
The Board has determined that a low back disability, diagnosed as DJD of the lumbar spine, had its onset during service and grants service connection for this condition.
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