The VA determined that the veteran's low back disorder, characterized as congenital spinal stenosis with an annular bulge at L5-S1, was not incurred in or aggravated during active service and is not related to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection was denied.
The deciding factor: The VA found no evidence of permanent aggravation, superimposed disease or injury of the claimed back disorder during military service, and that it is congenital in nature. Additionally, there was no causal relationship established between the veteran's low back disorder and his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Congenital spinal stenosis with an annular bulge at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2004
- Citation
- 0407170
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,440 · Granted: 30% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0407170.
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