The Board found that there is no evidence of shrapnel wounds to the legs in service, and no competent evidence of a nexus between any current arthritis of the legs and the veteran's period of active service. The claim for low back pain with spinal stenosis at L3-5, degenerative disc changes, and facet joint osteoarthritis was also denied as there is no evidence of a chronic low back disorder in service or within one year after service. Service connection for C6 fracture with quadriplegia as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease and arteriosclerosis, status post coronary artery bypass graft, was denied.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his period of active service or any other relevant exposure basis.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis in the Legs, Low Back Pain with Spinal Stenosis at L3-5, Degenerative Disc Changes, and Facet Joint Osteoarthritis, C6 Fracture with Quadriplegia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 9, 2004
- Citation
- 0421693
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 0421693.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any related exposure.
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