The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the low back as it was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to service.
The deciding factor: Degenerative changes in the lumbar spine were not present during service, and there is no evidence linking the current condition to an injury sustained in service. The examiner opined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease is more likely due to normal age-related changes and obesity, as well as two post-service motor vehicle accidents.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of the low back
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2009
- Citation
- 0909600
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 low back disability is not manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine or intervertebral disc syndrome with incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12 months, and therefore, an increased disability rating in excess of 50 percent is not warranted.
- Granted
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