The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative changes of thoracolumbar spine, including degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, are causally related to her active service. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during service or are related to an injury sustained during service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative changes of thoracolumbar spine, including arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, is supported by her consistent lay statements of chronic back pain since separation from service and the positive nexus opinion provided by her private chiropractor.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative changes of thoracolumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19184072
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 service connection for a deviated septum and right wrist pain, while denying service connection for sleep apnea. The decision also addressed various rating issues and effective dates.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left hand and right hand essential tremors, as well as increased ratings for knee instability, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle. The appeal was denied for a left ankle disability.
- 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.
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