The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury. The psychiatric disorder claim was denied.
The deciding factor: A private physician linked the Veteran’s current back disorder to his in-service low back injury.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 13, 2018
- Citation
- 18100456
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 18100456.
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 lumbar spine condition was evaluated at a 10 percent rating prior to November 8, 2023 and upgraded to a 20 percent rating thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and a low back disability are being remanded due to the need to verify an in-service stressor. Additionally, his claim for higher ratings for his left knee disability is also being remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinions regarding service connection for Morton's Neuroma and Degenerative Joint Disease of the Spine, both claimed as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for PTSD and Degenerative Joint Disease of the Spine, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted since the final decisions.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.