The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and its associated radiculopathy.,Service connection was also granted for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine had its onset during his active service. The Board found that the Veteran experienced low back pain since his periods of active service and this was supported by medical records showing current diagnoses of osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.,The evidence is also at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board found that there was bilateral nerve root impingement at L4-L5, L5-S1, and L3-L4, which supports a finding of secondary service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, Left lower extremity radiculopathy, secondary to degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, secondary to degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20024793
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 20024793.
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 Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine was granted with effective dates of May 13, 2019.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was diagnosed during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on continuity of symptomatology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.
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