The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder and lumbar disabilities, as well as secondary service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatica pain. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be at least in equipoise with the opinions against his claims, leading to a grant of service connection.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran’s diagnosed conditions were related to his active service and granted service connection accordingly.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder DJD, left shoulder osteoarthritis, lumbar DJD, lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD), lumbar anterolisthesis, lumbar facet arthropathy, right lower extremity sciatica pain, left lower extremity sciatica pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- November 23, 2018
- Citation
- 18152665
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 18152665.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to untimely filing of the appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to January 31, 2023.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia due to potential aggravation by her service-connected disabilities. The RO must obtain medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's conditions were aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance from another person, resulting in the grant of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The issue of SMC at the housebound rate is dismissed as it is a lesser benefit than SMC based on aid and attendance.
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