The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a spinal cord injury, to include cauda equina syndrome, was reopened and granted. The Veteran is also awarded an increased rating for PTSD to 70 percent prior to November 9, 2011, and TDIU prior to March 1, 2016.
The deciding factor: The evidence established a current spinal cord disability and an injury affecting the low back in service. A private opinion related the current spinal cord injury residuals to the in-service motor vehicle accident. The Veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by occupational and social impairment but not total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of spinal cord injury, cauda equina syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 28, 2017
- Citation
- 1743016
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 1743016.
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 remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with spinal fusion and cauda equina syndrome due to outstanding federal records from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Social Security Administration (SSA).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including the lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, shoulder disorders, cauda equina syndrome, neurogenic bowel disorder, erectile dysfunction, and various radiculopathies. The dental disorder and left ankle disorder were dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining an independent medical opinion and VA treatment records from multiple facilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed for possible aggravation by VA treatment, including a delay in surgery from approximately 2003 to 2006.
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