The Board has granted service connection for mechanical back pain syndrome and lumbosacral sprain/strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran’s low back condition was caused by his service-connected bilateral knee conditions, leading to secondary service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- mechanical back pain syndrome, lumbosacral sprain/strain
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20062082
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 20062082.
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 granted service connection for a back disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and major depressive disorder (MDD), but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a right shoulder disability.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities other than traumatic brain injury (TBI) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbosacral sprain/strain disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 13, 2023, and denied for a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 26, 2016 for service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The appeal was found to be final due to lack of timely submission and new and material evidence.
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