The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding a continuity of symptomatology since service. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
The deciding factor: The evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the current lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is related to an acute injury during service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Degenerative Arthritis of the Lumbar Spine","claimed_condition":"low back syndrome"}, {"condition_name":"Diabetes Mellitus","claimed_condition":"diabetes mellitus"}, {"condition_name":"Peripheral Neuropathy (to include all extremities)","claimed_condition":"diabetic peripheral neuropathy, to include all extremities"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19124942
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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