The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injuries and chronic low back pain since those injuries. The decision also notes that the Veteran's occupation did not cause his current condition.
The deciding factor: The Board resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, finding a nexus between his in-service injuries and his current thoracolumbar spine disorder based on the private physician's opinion and the combat provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1154(b).
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar spine disorder
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19125252
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 thoracolumbar spine disorder and a cervical spine disorder as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, scars of the face, psychiatric disorder, and traumatic brain injury.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a thoracolumbar spine disorder due to a lack of evidence demonstrating current disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, and no nexus between the claimed conditions and military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including missing Reserve records and outstanding SSA records.
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