The Board granted service connection for back disabilities of residuals of a compression fracture of the L1 vertebra, and DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine, as secondary to the service-connected right knee instability.
The deciding factor: The evidence at least in relative equipoise on the question of whether the fall was caused by the service-connected right knee instability, and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a compression fracture of the L1 vertebra, Degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2024
- Citation
- 24002016
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 reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back condition due to new and material evidence. The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and possibly an updated examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's lower back disability, specifically during flare-ups and after repeated use.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his lung cancer was related to his service-connected melanoma.
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