The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of arthritis within one year of separation from active duty. The Board also found that there is sufficient continuity of symptoms to support a grant of service connection.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran had a compensable degree of arthritis within one year of his separation from active duty and established a link between his current disability and his in-service complaints of back pain, finding that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- mild degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2017
- Citation
- 1742579
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1742579.
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: Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for mild degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (claimed as chronic back pain) is being remanded to determine if her MOS as an Ammunition Specialist caused her current condition.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's back and left ankle disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings, but his service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective September 25, 2019 due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus the TDIU claim is denied.
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