The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, to include degenerative disc disease (DDD), is granted. Entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, to include DDD, is also granted.,Entitlement to service connection for sinusitis, to include as secondary to low back condition, is remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence received since the July 1994 rating decision is new and material and relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for a low back disability, to include DDD. Resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his low back disability was incurred during his active military service.,The evidence does not establish whether the sinusitis had its onset in, or is otherwise related to active duty or inactive duty for training, and further development is needed.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disability, sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 25, 2021
- Citation
- 21032098
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 21032098.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has ordered the case back to the AOJ for proper notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for sinusitis is being remanded due to a failure by the AOJ to provide proper notice of his right to a hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic lower back pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, neck pain, and GERD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and authorization for private treatment providers. The issues include heart disorder, OSA, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder all related to Agent Orange exposure.
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