The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding it related to a motor vehicle accident in service. Service connection was denied for spina bifida occulta due to its preexistence and lack of aggravation during service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease is related to a motor vehicle accident in service, while his spina bifida occulta was not aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, Spina bifida occulta
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 10, 2018
- Citation
- 18133091
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 18133091.
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 denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing spina bifida occulta did not result in any superimposed injury or disease during his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development regarding the nature and origin of the Veteran's scoliosis and spina bifida occulta, which are considered congenital defects. The examiner is asked to determine if there was a superimposed injury or disease that caused an increase in severity during service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his military service and that his congenital conditions were not aggravated by service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that his conditions existed prior to service and were not aggravated by service.
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