The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back condition, including diagnoses such as mechanical back pain, lumbosacral sprain/strain, facet joint arthropathy (DJD), and degenerative disc disease (DDD). The decision also reopened his previously denied claim for lumbar strain.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine conditions are at least as likely as not related to service due to consistent reports of back pain since service, treatment records showing post-service medical evidence, and an opinion from a private orthopedic surgeon stating that his back conditions are a direct result of his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, mechanical back pain, lumbosacral sprain/strain, facet joint arthropathy (degenerative joint disease of lumbosacral spine) (DJD), degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20063499
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 20063499.
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's appeals for service connection for right hand arthritis and left hand arthritis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve have been remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with left sciatica. The right lower extremity sciatica claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica have been granted as they are related to his active duty service.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, is causally related to service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.
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