The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability and has determined that there is sufficient evidence to support the claim, finding it at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current back strain and degenerative changes in the thoracolumbar spine are related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found multiple medical opinions supportive of the claim, including one from a VA examiner who stated that it was at least as likely as not that the disorder related to service due to complaints of back pain during service and training as a soldier. The other opinion supported the claim by stating current back disability relates to service due in part to training as a soldier and 'countless games of basketball' and 'the stress he was placing on his body.'
- Claimed conditions
- muscle strain, degenerative changes in thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 22, 2022
- Citation
- 22053824
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 22053824.
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 Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied because his service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to protect himself from daily living hazards.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on housebound status was also denied as he does not meet the statutory or factual criteria for an award of SMC based on housebound status.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence of onset and etiology, requiring VA examinations. The PACT Act presumption applies to TERA exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of consideration of relevant evidence, including service treatment records.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected left shoulder disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.
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