The Veteran's claims were granted for service connection for various spinal disabilities and associated radiculopathies. The RO also increased her disability ratings for these conditions, with some changes effective May 23, 2013.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's medical records supported the grant of service connection for her spinal disabilities based on their direct relationship to her military service. Her increased ratings were granted as she demonstrated significant functional impairment and pain in her spine and extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, Sciatic nerve involvement (right and left lower extremities), Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine (left upper extremity)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2013
- Citation
- 1337679
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 1337679.
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 denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that there is no nexus between the current disability and active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's current conditions are aggravated by his service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine. The AOJ is required to obtain new medical opinions addressing this issue.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities prior to October 22, 2008 are being remanded due to the need for additional retrospective medical opinions.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.
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