The Board has determined that service connection for a low back disorder is warranted based on continuity of symptoms since service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of an acute injury to the vertebral elements or spinal cord during service but noted the Veteran's history of chronic back pain and degenerative changes post-service. The Board concluded that this supported a finding of service connection based on continuity of symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint and Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 12, 2015
- Citation
- 1534494
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1534494.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
PTSD, a back condition, and flat feet were not granted service connection prior to October 22, 2008.,The Veteran's claims for these conditions were submitted after the one-year period following separation from active duty.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40% rating for the period prior to November 20, 2010. For the period on appeal, his claim for an increased rating was denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation due to the potential need for surgical intervention.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the sciatic nerves was denied. The RO assigned a 20 percent rating for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain, but denied increased ratings for radiculopathy.
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