The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder, including lumbar strain, degenerative disc disease L4-5, facet degenerative changes, and right sciatica, was not incurred or aggravated during service. The VA examiner found no link between his current condition and his period of active military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examination did not find a nexus between the Veteran's current low back disorder and his period of active military service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, degenerative disc disease L4-5, facet degenerative changes, right sciatica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 13, 2010
- Citation
- 1026032
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 1026032.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder and denied increased ratings for the lumbar disability, left and right sciatica, and chronic sinusitis. However, it granted an increased rating of 40 percent from March 7, 2022, for left and right sciatic radiculopathy and restored a 30 percent rating for chronic sinusitis.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left and right sciatica, finding that the evidence supported a rating of 10 percent but not more.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for further development, including obtaining new medical opinions and examination reports to address the issues of service connection and increased ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical strain and lumbar strain to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including when the AOJ fails to make reasonable efforts to obtain VA treatment records, relevant federal or private treatment records; fails to obtain a VA examination; or provides an inadequate VA examination or opinion.
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