The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disorders of osteoarthritis, spondylosis, and spinal strain. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to in-service back injuries and treatment. Service connection for sleep apnea is also granted as the evidence now supports a link between the condition and one or more service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that new evidence established a link between the Veteran’s current lumbar spine disorders and his military service, including pre-existing osteophytes noted at separation. The Board also accepted a private opinion linking the sleep apnea to service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteoarthritis, Spinal strain, Spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19136158
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,200 · Granted: 43% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19136158.
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.
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The Veteran's right knee strain with osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence.
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- Granted
The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-total knee arthroplasty, is rated at 30% effective December 1, 2018. The TDIU claim was granted from January 1, 2018.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
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