The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as due to a lumbar spine disorder. The claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran experienced symptoms related to his lumbar spine disorder during service, which continued after separation from service. A private medical opinion supports this finding and indicates that the current radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is due to the lumbar spine disorder. The Board also found that the left shoulder disorder may be aggravated by or related to the lumbar spine disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disorder, rheumatoid arthritis (assumed from context as left shoulder disorder is related to lumbar spine disorder and degenerative joint disease was mentioned)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2018
- Citation
- A18000060
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 A18000060.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral diabetic neuropathy.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeal for timely filing of an appeal request, dismissing the attempted appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including a lumbar spine disorder, left elbow disorder, and others, to correct duty to assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder due to a need for an additional medical opinion.
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