The Veteran's low back degenerative disc disease was granted service connection as it is considered a direct result of her military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s chronic low back arthritis symptomology began in service and has continued since, satisfying the nexus requirement for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- low back degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19150389
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's low back disability effective January 17, 2023, based on evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back DDD was granted a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, prior to March 3, 2009. From March 3, 2009 to November 16, 2011, the Veteran received a 40 percent rating for his low back DDD. Since July 17, 2015, he was denied any higher ratings. The left knee patellofemoral arthritis and right knee patellofemoral arthritis were granted separate ratings based on their specific manifestations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his low back and left knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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