The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with right lower leg recurrent sciatica, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the condition was related to an in-service injury.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's lay statements of chronic low back pain since active duty service and her lay statements supporting a connection between her current symptoms and service are supported by service treatment records documenting an incident where she injured her low back during service, which is considered probative evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, right lower leg recurrent sciatica
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 10, 2021
- Citation
- 21013723
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 21013723.
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.
- Denied
The Board found the reduction in disability evaluation from 40% to 20% was improper and void ab initio due to inadequate examination for reduction.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, finding that his current disabilities are related to his active duty service.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative disc disease is rated at 20 percent, and his PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective April 11, 2023, and SMC based on housebound status effective the same date.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the same condition.
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