The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with sciatica of the left lower extremity and cervical spondylosis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to showing these conditions are associated with the Veteran's service.
The deciding factor: The private physician's opinion linking the Veteran’s back and neck disabilities to his service was consistent with other clinicians' opinions and supported by the Veteran's medical history and relevant literature.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine with sciatica of the left lower extremity, Cervical spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19150618
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a neck disorder to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current neck condition, including whether it is related to her military service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, cervical spondylosis, and cervical osteophyte, as well as duodenal ulcers. The remaining claims were denied or remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple back, neck, and upper/lower extremity disabilities as well as depression. The TBI claim was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, but no higher, and the 30 percent evaluation for cervical spondylosis, but no higher. It also granted a 40 percent rating for radiculopathy right upper extremity from March 2, 2020.
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