The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's current low back condition is less likely than not caused by a reported injury during service, based on lack of documented treatment for low back issues in service and no chronic disability noted at separation.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic low back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2009
- Citation
- 0938472
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 0938472.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of January 26, 2001, and the Board granted a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from that date.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, cold injury residuals, and right foot injury are not related to service or manifest within one year of separation. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's TDIU was granted based on the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities (chronic low back disability, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic retinopathy) meeting the schedular criteria as of June 3, 2005.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, a chronic left elbow disability, a chronic low back disability, and residuals of a neck injury as there is no competent medical evidence relating any current disabilities to the veteran's active service.
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