The Veteran's preexisting back condition was worsened during service, and the Board has granted service connection for a subjective back condition, chronic low back strain, and anterior wedging of second and third lumbar vertebral bodies.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is equipoise evidence regarding whether the worsening of the pre-existing back condition was beyond its natural progression, thus resolving in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- subjective back condition, chronic low back strain, anterior wedging of second and third lumbar vertebral bodies
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20030633
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 20030633.
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 effective dates prior to September 27, 2024, for the awards of service connection for various knee and back conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from April 29, 2018.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for a lower back disability and remanded claims for a higher rating, TDIU, and extraschedular consideration.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating and earlier effective date of service connection for his back disability was partially granted, with a 40 percent disability rating assigned from May 10, 2010. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied.
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