The Board found that there was no evidence of a low back disability during service, and the Veteran's current low back pain is not shown to be related to service. The degenerative changes and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine were first diagnosed after service beyond the one-year presumptive period for chronic diseases.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that there was no continuity of symptomatology or direct evidence linking the current low back disability and degenerative changes to service, including separation from service in 1996.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disability, degenerative changes and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2010
- Citation
- 1013324
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 1013324.
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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- Denied
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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