The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, including posterior disc bulges most pronounced along L3-4 and L4-5 and mild facet arthropathy. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.
The deciding factor: The Board found credible the Veteran's statements regarding his continuity of back symptoms since service, which supported the claim that the current lower back disorder had its onset during service.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative changes of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19188578
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 19188578.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for reductions in ratings for post operative left femur fracture with leg length discrepancy and chondromalacia residuals, and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded all issues for further development, including higher initial ratings for various conditions and effective dates for ratings and benefits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a VA retrospective medical opinion to determine the full description of the effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his military service.
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