The Veteran's chronic low back disorder is not service-connected and the Board finds that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee condition.
The deciding factor: Multiple medical opinions have determined that the Veteran's degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine is less likely related to his service-connected right knee disability, but rather caused by aging.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic low back disorder, degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 4, 2009
- Citation
- 0916603
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 0916603.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar strain, finding that it began in service and is related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chronic low back disorder and right leg disorder, finding that the current disabilities are not causally related to service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a chronic low back disorder, finding that the preexisting condition was not aggravated by service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate examination for rating purposes, specifically failing to evaluate functional impairment during flare-ups and not including range of motion testing in non-weight-bearing conditions.
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