The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, including degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, intervertebral osteochondrosis with spondylosis deformans at L5-S1, and protrusion at L4-5, is causally related to service.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record shows a long history of complaints of lower back pain and continuous treatment for approximately 30 years, including during service and post-service. The Veteran's statements are credible as they relate to matters within his personal knowledge. Service treatment records confirm the existence of an in-service injury and show continuity of symptomatology.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disability, degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, intervertebral osteochondrosis with spondylosis deformans at L5-S1, protrusion at L4-5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2015
- Citation
- 1502030
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 1502030.
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 found that remand is needed for the Veteran's claims due to duty to assist errors, including clarification of periods of service and obtaining relevant records. The Veteran will be afforded new medical examinations for each claimed disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of right shoulder disability and low back disability due to insufficient evidence.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability was granted with an effective date of January 9, 2018. The Board accepted her November 21, 2019 VA Form 20-0996 as a valid opt-in of the April 2019 SOC into the modernized review system.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal concerning diabetes and a low back disability has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
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