The Veteran's low back disorder and sciatica are found to be related to service, while his right knee disorder is not. Service connection for the low back and sciatic nerve disorders is granted, but service connection for the right knee disorder is denied.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records show an in-service injury resulting in a back condition that has persisted since then. The Veteran's current degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine and sciatica are found to be related to his service-connected low back disability. However, there is no evidence linking the right knee disorder to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine, Sciatica, Bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2018
- Citation
- 1800737
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 1800737.
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: Granted
The Board has granted initial ratings of 40 percent for sciatica of the right and left lower extremities, effective from the date of the January 2021 rating decision.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD, lumbar spine disability, sciatica, and ED, as well as a TDIU prior to April 5, 2021, due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a low back disability rating in excess of 20 percent, service connection for sciatica as secondary to the low back disability, and service connection for a right knee disability due to inadequate medical examinations.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD, granted a TDIU from December 3, 2020, and denied service connection for various conditions.
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