The Board has granted service connection for chronic thoracolumbar pain, segmental and somatic dysfunction of the lumbar and thoracic region, ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical spine, neuralgia sciatic nerve, and neuralgia of all three radicular groups.,The Board also remanded the issue of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for stress fracture right inferior pubic ramus.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disabilities are related to service due to her in-service pelvic fracture and subsequent physical and mental stress, leading to long-term complications.,The VA examinations were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms. The private medical opinion provided a more reliable link between the current conditions and service.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic thoracolumbar pain, segmental and somatic dysfunction of the lumbar and thoracic region, ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical spine, neuralgia sciatic nerve, neuralgia of all three radicular groups
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 3, 2023
- Citation
- 23059614
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 23059614.
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 ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to environmental factors during active military service. Service connection was also granted for a bilateral hip condition, but this issue is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, and bilateral hip condition due to in-service infections or exposure to herbicide agents. The AOJ must obtain a new medical opinion addressing the etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of her spinal disorders, including chronic thoracolumbar pain, segmental and somatic dysfunction of the lumbar and thoracic region, ankylosing spondylitis of cervical spine, neuralgia of all three radicular groups, and stress fracture right inferior pubic ramus (right hip disability).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine due to inadequate examination reports and failure to obtain in-service vaccination records.
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