The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including L4-L5 degenerative spondylolisthesis and severe stenosis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The arthritis of the lumbar spine is also not presumed due to a lack of evidence within one year post-service.
The deciding factor: The first objective medical evidence of low back pain and associated spinal changes (arthritis) was documented many years after separation from service, failing to meet the criteria for presumptive service connection or direct service connection based on continuity of symptomatology.
- Claimed conditions
- L4-L5 degenerative spondylolisthesis, L4-L5 severe stenosis, large right facet cyst, low back pain with bilateral radiculopathy (right greater than left)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2012
- Citation
- 1222402
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 1222402.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's L4-L5 degenerative spondylolisthesis is granted as service-connected, with a rating of 100% effective from the date of the decision.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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