Service connection for lumbar spine disability is granted. For the period beginning December 7, 2015, a 10 percent rating for left hip bursitis and non-compensable rating for limitation of extension are granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine condition was found to be incurred in service due to chronicity of symptoms from the period during and immediately after separation from service. The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran’s lay statements regarding continuity of symptomatology, leading to a finding that the current lumbar spine disability is less likely than not caused by service factors.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (lumbar spine disability), Left hip bursitis, Right hip bursitis and arthritis, status post total hip arthroplasty (right hip disability), Left knee osteoarthritis, status post total arthroplasty (left knee disability), Left leg radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20032078
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 20032078.
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 Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) due to weight gain caused by her service-connected cervical degenerative disc disease, lumbar facet arthrosis, left knee disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision resolves all reasonable doubts in favor of the Veteran.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an effective date prior to December 4, 2024, for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and denied initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a lumbar spine disability. However, it granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, left leg radiculopathy, bilateral restless leg syndrome, and obstructive and central sleep apnea due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not obtaining adequate medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a new examination and retrospective opinion due to deficiencies in previous VA examinations.
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.