The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's in-service back strain may have predisposed him to exacerbated back pain and arthritis, which developed into premature degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Board resolved all doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2021
- Citation
- 21002717
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 21002717.
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 Veteran's service-connected conditions have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, finding the evidence to be in approximate balance regarding its relation to an in-service injury.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all pending claims and chose to pursue subsequently filed supplemental claims for the same conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the veteran's back disability but remanded the case to reassess the rating.
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