The claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar disability is reopened and the appeal as to this issue is granted. The Veteran's current back disability is found to be related to his in-service jeep accident, but an addendum VA examination is needed to determine if it was present within one year of discharge.
The deciding factor: The new evidence provided by the Veteran's testimony and a private medical opinion supports reopening the claim for service connection. However, further clarification on whether the current condition can be linked to the in-service injury requires an addendum VA examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19158058
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 19158058.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (left and right), and bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service symptoms and medical records showing continuity of symptomatology.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting his allegations of disabilities, with some issues being remanded for further review.
- Denied
The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability was previously denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 7, 2021 and is now denied a higher rating effective June 7, 2021.,Entitlement to OSA service connection is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it had its onset during service or due to exposure to environmental hazards in the Persian Gulf.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the appellant's thoracolumbar disability. The claim will be further developed with an addendum medical opinion.
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