Service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine is granted. Service connection for osteoporosis, digestive disability (GERD), and memory loss are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine were found to be at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected residuals of a lumbosacral strain. Osteoporosis, digestive disability, and memory loss were not shown to be related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, Osteoporosis, Digestive disability (GERD), Memory loss (not distinct from PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 14, 2018
- Citation
- 18102194
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 18102194.
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 claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy on the basis of CUE in the February 1996 rating decision have been denied. The May 2022 rating decision is also dismissed as it failed to grant service connection.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis and continuous low back symptomology since separation from service are sufficient to meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including degenerative diseases of the cervical and lumbar spine, radiculopathies affecting various extremities, OSA, hepatic steatosis, and supraventricular arrhythmia.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sinusitis, but remanded claims for post-traumatic osteoarthritis and osteoporosis due to a need for further evidence.
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