The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical spine, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine, osteoarthrosis (claimed as osteosynovial chromatosis), sickle cell like bone marrow disease due to radiation exposure, and trigeminal neuralgia due to radiation exposure. The Board found that these conditions did not originate in service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to any incident of service.
The deciding factor: The veteran's spine problems began almost 10 years after separation from service, and the general osteoarthrosis did not have its onset during service or for many years thereafter. The Board found that these conditions were more likely due to intercurrent causes rather than service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes of the cervical spine, Degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, Degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, Osteoarthrosis (claimed as osteosynovial chromatosis), Sickle cell like bone marrow disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2007
- Citation
- 0733339
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 0733339.
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 has remanded the claim of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that the VA examination and opinion were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's complete medical history. The case is now to be reviewed with an addendum VA opinion.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed with respect to the June 14, 2023 rating decision that decreased the rating for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine to 20 percent effective September 1, 2023.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical spine and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that new evidence supports these claims. Service connection is also granted for a musculoskeletal disability of the neck/upper back.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 15, 2012. The Board granted a total disability rating for compensation due to his unemployability.
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