The Veteran's current low back disability is shown to be aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disability, and therefore secondary service connection for the low back disability is granted.
The deciding factor: The private treating orthopedic surgeon found that the degenerative disc disease was exacerbated by the Veteran's bilateral knee disability as a result of an altered gait and body mechanics.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disability (degenerative disc disease)
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 6, 2015
- Citation
- 1514631
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 1514631.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease, is granted service connection.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted service connection.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, low back disability, lumbar radiculopathy (right and left lower extremities), PTSD, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for PTSD. The issues are being remanded to determine if there is evidence that supports secondary service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability and bilateral foot disability due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete service records. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence and a thorough review of all available data.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for varicocele of the left hemiscrotum, service connection for low back disability, and service connection for left hip disability were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.
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