The Board has determined that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder was incurred in or causally related to documented injuries during service. Therefore, service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, including lumbosacral strain with facet joint arthropathy and degenerative arthritis of the spine, is granted.
The deciding factor: The Board has determined that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder was incurred in or causally related to documented injuries during service. The decision is based on the totality of the evidence, including the documented in-service findings, current findings of lumbosacral strain with facet joint arthropathy as well degenerative arthritis of the spine, the competent and credible statements of the Veteran, the unfavorable medical opinion in the May 2017 VA examination report, and the favorable medical opinion given in the June 2022 private physician statement.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, facet joint arthropathy, degenerative arthritis of the spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 30, 2022
- Citation
- 22049186
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 22049186.
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 connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a lumbosacral strain, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that it is related to his in-service injury. The claimant did not contest this decision.
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