The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome disability is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran presented competent lay statements of experiencing ongoing back pain since service, which was supported by medical evidence showing treatment for lower back pain during service. The VA examiner acknowledged the Veteran's current symptoms and their relation to his condition.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19163124
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 19163124.
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 granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, cervical radiculopathy of both upper extremities, thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, and lumbar radiculopathy of both lower extremities based on the evidence showing that these conditions began during and have continued since service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on either incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection back disorder, as due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE), was dismissed because the appeal request was not timely filed.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome based on the Veteran's continuous symptoms since service.
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