The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current low back condition to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: There was no competent medical evidence showing a link between the Veteran's current low back condition and his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- spondylolisthesis of L5-S1, small disc herniation of the T11-T12
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 15, 2009
- Citation
- 0922437
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 0922437.
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.
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The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities due to Gulf War Illness, as they are related to medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative spondylosis of L5 and rheumatoid arthritis (presumed due to hepatitis C), rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 25, 2012. His TDIU claim is granted on an extraschedular basis from May 4, 2009.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his service-connected lumbar spine disability and any current knee disabilities. The earlier effective date claim will be adjudicated separately.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records and updated VA treatment records.
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