The Veteran's back disability, including thoracic spine scoliosis and thoracolumbar spine arthritis, is granted as service connected. The conditions are considered to be directly related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The evidence established a direct link between the Veteran's in-service symptoms and current disabilities without any pre-existing condition or external exposure factors being identified.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracic spine scoliosis, thoracolumbar spine arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 21, 2021
- Citation
- 21075603
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 21075603.
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 claim for a higher rating and effective date of January 10, 2024, for his thoracolumbar spine condition was granted. The effective date is based on the date he filed his Intent to File Claim form.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected spinal stenosis, degenerative arthritis, and related conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for initial increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, bilateral lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, and a scar.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress as due to the Veteran's service-connected left hip labral tear with strain and trochanteric pain syndrome, but denied service connection for thoracic spine scoliosis, bilateral hallux valgus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left knee strain with patellar tendinitis, and left shoulder strain.
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