The Board granted service connection for a lower back condition, to include intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current lower back condition was incurred during active service and has continued since that time.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's statements of continuous symptoms since service were credible and supported by in-service treatment records, outweighing the VA examiner's opinion based on an inaccurate factual premise.
- Claimed conditions
- lower back condition, to include intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and lumbosacral strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 30, 2025
- Citation
- A25039598
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right leg condition, sinusitis, lower back condition, and joint pain as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus (flat feet), bilateral ankle condition, bilateral knee condition, and lower back condition as there was no evidence of a current disability or that the disabilities were related to the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of December 3, 2022, for the awards of service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, and lower back condition.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a left hip condition, lower back condition, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right hip condition based on new and relevant evidence. The Board also granted service connection for left hip pain with left lower extremity radiculopathy and right hip pain with right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected lower back condition.
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