The Board found that the veteran's low back disability was not related to his inservice car crash and denied service connection.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence showed no relationship between the veteran's current low back disabilities and his inservice car accident, with intercurrent injuries being more likely causes.
- Claimed conditions
- herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-L5 and L5-S1, status post laminectomy and discectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 23, 2008
- Citation
- 0832678
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0832678.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's mechanical back pain was evaluated at a 10% rating, and the issues of total disability based on individual unemployability were denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease from L3-L4 and L5-S1, with herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-L5 and L5-S1, is service-connected.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disorder in service or until many years thereafter, and concluded that the Veteran's current back condition is not related to his active duty.
- Whole decision: Granted
The veteran's service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-L5 and L5-S1 warrants a disability rating of 40 percent, but no higher. The neurological deficits of the left lower extremity are currently rated as 10 percent disabling.
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