The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar osteoarthritis was granted. The claims for residuals of a nasal fracture and residuals of mercury exposure were denied.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records showed the Veteran had pre-existing spina bifida occulta, which later developed into low back pain during service. A VA examiner concluded that the current degenerative joint disease is less likely caused by service due to lack of chronic, continuous painful back condition present since service in order to establish a positive nexus between service and the current condition.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar osteoarthritis, residuals of a nasal fracture, residuals of mercury exposure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20038194
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 20038194.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and remanded several issues related to service connection, rating increases, and unemployability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to a single disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he had a single service-connected disability that rendered him unable to work. The issue of an effective date prior to July 15, 2009, for TDIU is dismissed as moot.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case to schedule a new VA examination for the Veteran due to confusion regarding the date of an earlier scheduled examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for residuals of a nasal fracture due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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.