The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease and diffuse lumbar spondylosis of the lumbar spine, is related to service. The claim for vertigo secondary to PTSD will be remanded as it was not addressed in this decision.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner could not provide an etiology opinion without resorting to mere speculation regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current back condition and his reported in-service injuries, but found that a review of the claims file revealed no documentation of a back injury in service. The examiner noted that the Veteran's employment history included work as a heavy equipment operator and heavy commercial truck driver, which could have resulted in episodic injuries or cumulative trauma lumbar spine injuries after service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disorder, vertigo
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2013
- Citation
- 1335785
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 1335785.
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.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, fibromyalgia, and vertigo. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and lower extremity disorders, including as secondary to a lumbar spine disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to military noise exposure during service.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal (GI) disability, and vertigo are remanded for further examination and opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and authorization for private treatment providers. The issues include heart disorder, OSA, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder all related to Agent Orange exposure.
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