The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's currently diagnosed low back disorder had onset during active service, and the Board finds that service connection should be granted.
The deciding factor: The medical opinion provided by a spine neurosurgeon from VHA supports an inference of a causal connection between the Veteran's current low back condition and his in-service symptoms, leading to a finding of equipoise in favor of the claimant.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disorder, anterolisthesis of L5 on S1 with trace posterior listhesis of L2 on L3 and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 23, 2018
- Citation
- 1811172
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 1811172.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for dermatitis/eczema, sleep apnea, a psychiatric disorder (including MDD and PTSD), hypertension, COPD, low back disorder, and prostate cancer are all granted. The Board found that the evidence supported these determinations based on direct service connection.
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