The Board has determined that the veteran's DDD of the neck and low back did not occur during service or due to any incident therein, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not establish a direct nexus between the veteran's current DDD of the neck and low back and his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the neck, Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the low back
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2008
- Citation
- 0839964
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 0839964.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and a neck disability, to include degenerative disc disease, due to inadequate VA opinions in prior remands.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claims for a dental disability and neck disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The case will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) after further development.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for clarification of VA medical opinions and a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed GERD. The issues are whether service connection should be granted based on secondary service connection or reopening due to new evidence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his spine disabilities, as well as the need for additional VA treatment records.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.