The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability, to include lumbar spine spondylolisthesis, spondylosis and degenerative arthritis, based on evidence showing the Veteran's condition had its onset during active duty.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner acknowledged in-service treatment records but concluded that the Veteran's current conditions were less likely than not connected to service. However, a private medical opinion provided significant probative value by citing relevant literature and supporting the conclusion with a reasoned analysis.
- Claimed conditions
- lower back disability, lumbar spine spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 25, 2024
- Citation
- 24003708
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, degenerative arthritis, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension was dismissed due to non-compliance with claims processing rules.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining outstanding Social Security Administration records.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during his service and has progressively worsened since separation.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective March 8, 2023, but no earlier. Other claims were denied or remanded.
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