The Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his active service, including an in-service injury during combat in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided by the Veteran's primary care physician and VA examiner supported the conclusion that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was incurred during his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with sciatica
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 24, 2018
- Citation
- 18120608
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 18120608.
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 Board found that the Veteran's service-connected low back disorder, which is rated at 40 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating due to lack of ankylosis, associated neurologic impairment warranting separate compensable ratings, or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during any 12-month period.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with sciatica was denied. The appeal is based on the current severity of his condition, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with sciatica is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination.
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