The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease and joint disease of his lumbosacral spine, as well as a compensable disability rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The Board found that these conditions did not have onset during active service or were caused by his service-connected lumbosacral strain.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's current symptoms and limitations involving his low back are entirely due to degenerative disc disease and joint disease, which predate his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The service-connected condition does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, Degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 19, 2010
- Citation
- 1010551
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 1010551.
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 claims for increased ratings for left ankle and lumbosacral spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at a 40 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the May 2013 rating decision.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, effective February 2, 2020.
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