The Board denied service connection for residuals of injuries to the cervical spine, back, and left leg due to lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service. The veteran's current diagnoses are attributed to post-service injury.
The deciding factor: Service medical records did not show any neck, back, or left leg injuries during active duty. Degenerative arthritis was first noted over 36 years after the veteran's discharge from service.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of an injury to the cervical spine, residuals of an injury to the back, residuals of an injury to the left leg
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 9, 2002
- Citation
- 0217761
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 0217761.
What this means for you
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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 determined that further development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any current disabilities, including those related to a broken sternum, injury to the coccyx, injury to the cervical spine, and thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for residuals of an injury to the cervical spine, residuals of an injury to the lumbar spine, asthenopia, and increased rating for chronic headache. The claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by cirrhosis of the liver, which is not alcohol-related. The Board found that his use of pain medication for service-connected disabilities contributed to his liver failure and granted service connection for the cause of death.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran does not have residuals of an injury to his left hip, lower back, or leg that are attributable to military service and denied all three claims.
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