The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including disc herniation and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, is granted. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial in March 2009.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there has been continuity of symptoms since service, as evidenced by the Veteran's consistent reports of back pain and medical records showing treatment for back issues throughout his post-service history.
- Claimed conditions
- disc herniation, low back pain with disc herniation, IVDS and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19191385
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,062 · Granted: 34% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19191385.
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 Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to inadequate examinations and duty-to-assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including rescheduling of VA examinations to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability and the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hip disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 28, 2020, for the grant of a 40 percent evaluation for service-connected lumbar spine disability and TDIU is denied. The effective date is fixed in accordance with the facts found.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, lumbar stenosis, and disc herniation as well as right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to these conditions. The decision is based on credible lay evidence and VA medical opinions that support a finding of in-service injury and continuity of symptoms since separation from service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.