The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbar strain with multilevel degenerative disc disease L4-L5 and L5-S1. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disorder (claimed as an upper back disorder) is remanded due to the failure to provide a Statement of the Case.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current lumbar strain with multilevel degenerative disc disease L4-L5 and L5-S1 was found to be incurred in service, with the evidence being in relative equipoise. The cervical spine disorder issue requires additional development as no SOC has been issued yet.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain with multilevel degenerative disc disease L4-L5 and L5-S1, cervical spine disorder (claimed as an upper back disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2014
- Citation
- 1450603
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 1450603.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder (claimed as an upper back disorder), lumbar spine disorder, and migraine headaches. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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