The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.
The deciding factor: The evidence was in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran’s current thoracolumbar spine disability was related to his military service, and after resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board found that service connection is warranted.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar spine condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20005347
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, gastrointestinal issues, foot pain, hand scars, shin splints, migraines, thoracolumbar spine condition, and respiratory condition, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including respiratory condition, neck condition, thoracolumbar spine condition, bilateral shoulder condition, and bilateral elbow condition.
- Denied
The veteran's cervical spine strain is not shown to be more severe than the currently assigned 30 percent rating, and there are no other service-connected conditions for which a higher initial disability rating can be granted.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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