The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder is related to his service, including his service-connected left total knee replacement and right total knee replacement. As such, service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence suggests that the Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine is causally related to his service due to a reported history of lumbosacral pain for approximately 20 years without an intercurrent disease or injury.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine disorder, arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2015
- Citation
- 1516717
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 1516717.
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 Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, unspecified psychosis, arthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease, multilevel spinal stenosis, and arthritis of the cervical spine and degenerative disc disease. The diagnoses are linked to in-service physical assaults.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there were duty to assist errors for the issues on appeal and remanded the case. The Veteran is required to report for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his diabetes mellitus, lumbosacral spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left ankle disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection. The underlying merits of the claims must be addressed by the AOJ in the first instance, including any additional development that may be warranted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right hip disorder with associated right lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues are being remanded for further development.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.