The Board has determined that the veteran's back disorder, including degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiner opined that there is no relationship between the veteran's current back condition and his period of service.
The deciding factor: There is no medical opinion linking the veteran's current back condition to his period of service.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, laminectomy and disc excision at L4-5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2006
- Citation
- 0640001
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 0640001.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded all issues to the VA for further action. The Veteran's claims are not granted or denied at this time.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded all issues to correct an error in providing the veteran with notice of his right to a pre-decisional hearing.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and he is awarded a rating of 40 percent for his degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine. The appeal concerning entitlement to an effective date prior to April 10, 2003 for the grant of service connection for the lumbar spine disability is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various conditions, a rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, and a rating higher than 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims are also being remanded to obtain medical examinations and opinions on his cervical spine disability and service connection for sleep apnea.
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