The Board found that the veteran did not have a chronic lumbar spine disorder during service and arthritis of the spine was not manifest within one year after service. The Board also determined that his current back problems were not due to an injury in service but instead related to an on-the-job injury many years after service. For post-traumatic stress disorder, the Board found that there is no occupational or social impairment warranting a higher rating than 30 percent.

The deciding factor: The veteran's lumbar spine disorder was not incurred during service and arthritis of the spine may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The post-traumatic stress disorder did not result in significant occupational and social impairment as required for a higher disability rating.

Claimed conditions

lumbar spine disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

September 13, 2001

Citation

0122414

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 0122414.