The Board denied the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and DDD and arthritis of the lumbar spine, as no disability was shown in service or for many years thereafter, and there is no evidence to support that these disabilities are related to service.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on a lack of evidence showing any injury during service and the absence of cervical or lumbar spine pathology until many years after discharge. The medical opinion also concluded that the current conditions were not caused by or a result of the Veteran's military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the cervical spine, DDD and arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 2, 2009
- Citation
- 0907549
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 remands the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to December 26, 2007, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine due to inadequate explanation of denial of higher evaluations.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbosacral spine prior to October 29, 2021, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 25, 2017.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher disability rating and entitlement to TDIU, as the evidence did not support an increase in the current ratings or the grant of TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board granted the reopening of claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, but remanded all other issues for further development.
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