The Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including lumbosacral strain with acute disc rupture and postoperative fusion at L3-L5, is considered to be at least as likely as not incurred during his active service.
The deciding factor: VA examiner found the Veteran's current low back problems could be related to either an inservice lifting injury or a documented inservice motor vehicle accident (MVA), resulting in a nexus between the Veteran's current lumbar spine diagnosis and his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with acute disc rupture, status post fusion, L3-L5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 6, 2014
- Citation
- 1420353
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1420353.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, including arthritis, spondylolisthesis, DJD, DDD, and status post fusion. The Veteran's current diagnosed conditions were not incurred in or related to active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim will also be reviewed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and the provision of updated medical records. The issues of increased evaluation for lumbar spine disability and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.
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