The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and herniated lumbar disc at L5-S1 are related to service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran had a low back disorder prior to the work-related injury in August 2004, which is related to service. The post-service injury exacerbated his pre-existing condition and was proximately due to his service-connected lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, herniated lumbar disc at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 14, 2017
- Citation
- 1757900
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 1757900.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for his herniated lumbar disc at L5-S1 was denied. Service connection for cervical spine disorder and paresthesias of the left upper extremity were also denied.
- Partly granted
The Board found no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the RO's August 1973 decision that denied service connection for a herniated lumbar disc, but did not consider the issue of back disability. The veteran is still seeking to reopen his claim for service connection.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and assigned a 40 percent disability evaluation. The veteran is seeking a higher initial rating.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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