The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome based on the Veteran's credible history of back pain during service.
The deciding factor: The August 2023 medical opinion concluded that it was at least as likely as not that the low back disabilities were related to service due to the Veteran's report of a past history of back pain and his credibility as a historian, while the November 2023 opinion incorrectly dismissed evidence of pre-service back pain.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25022766
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 granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability since September 26, 2024.
- Dismissed
The appeal to reopen the previous denial of service connection for lumbosacral strain is dismissed as the benefit sought has been fully granted.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, cervical radiculopathy of both upper extremities, thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, and lumbar radiculopathy of both lower extremities based on the evidence showing that these conditions began during and have continued since service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and spinal stenosis based on the Veteran's in-service back injury and chronicity of symptoms.
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