The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective December 4, 2019. Service connection for PTSD and hypertension were also granted, with hypertension being granted due to the PACT Act. The claims for sleep disability and bilateral hips/knees/arthritis are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim was reopened based on new evidence received after a previous denial in September 2007, leading to service connection for a back disability effective December 4, 2019. His PTSD and hypertension were granted as well, with the latter due to the PACT Act.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 10, 2022
- Citation
- A22022738
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 A22022738.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine and right hip disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The effective date for DEA benefits is granted as May 1, 2014.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for his back disability is denied. The effective date remains March 29, 2021, as the earliest date of claim. An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the back disability from March 29, 2021, is also denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability and right leg radiculopathy are granted service connection, but left leg radiculopathy is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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