The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for spondylolysis at L5-S1, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.
The deciding factor: The additional evidence did not address the bases for the previous denial of the claim (preexistence of the condition and no aggravation during service).
- Claimed conditions
- spondylolysis at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2002
- Citation
- 0218235
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0218235.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an effective date earlier than June 21, 1994 for the grant of service connection for spondylolysis at L5-S1 due to a factual error in receiving a claim for increased rating before any application to reopen the previously denied low back disorder.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 60 percent, effective October 15, 2012. The Board found that the current rating does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected spondylolysis at L5-S1 is currently rated as 20 percent disabling since September 23, 1999. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.
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