Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and sacroiliac joint osteoarthritis is granted on a presumptive basis. The Veteran's claim for TDIU from July 23, 2015, is denied as the evidence does not show he was prevented from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows current diagnoses of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and sacroiliac joint osteoarthritis, which are considered 'chronic' diseases under VA regulations. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service low back injury and continuous symptoms since service separation are credible. For the TDIU claim, the evidence does not show that the Veteran was prevented from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, sacroiliac joint osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- October 12, 2023
- Citation
- 23055896
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 23055896.
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 Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD, as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the now service-connected lumbar spine condition. The decision is based on a finding of relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found the eligibility determination for PCAFC enrollment to be legally inadequate and remanded for a new medical opinion that adequately addresses the criteria for eligibility as set forth in VA regulations.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease are currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Veteran's RLE sciatic radiculopathy has been dismissed due to untimely filing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis as secondary to bilateral pes planus due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of contemporaneous medical records.
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