The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial increased evaluation for his service-connected chronic low back syndrome with intermittent lumbosacral strain, finding that the current disability is not related to his service-connected condition and is instead due to a work-related injury.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the veteran’s current degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine is more likely caused by genetic predisposition, lifetime occupational stress, and an on-the-job injury in 1986, rather than his service-connected low back strain from 1966.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic low back syndrome with intermittent lumbosacral strain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2008
- Citation
- 0822412
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 0822412.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected chronic low back syndrome with intermittent lumbosacral strain does not currently manifest in any symptoms and is attributed to nonservice-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine. As a result, he does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected chronic low back syndrome with intermittent lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.
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