The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that her Scheuermann's kyphosis and/or defect of the posterior elements of S1 pre-existed service. The other back disorders were not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's pre-existing Scheuermann's kyphosis and defect of the posterior elements of S1, commonly referred to as spina bifida occulta, were found to be unrelated to her military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Scheuermann's kyphosis, defect of the posterior elements of S1, commonly referred to as spina bifida occulta, spondylosis of the L-5 vertebra, associated spondylolisthesis of L-5 vertebral body on S-1, degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, lower extremity pain symptoms identified as radiculopathy or polyneuropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 13, 2012
- Citation
- 1242651
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1242651.
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 Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's low back disorder, effective March 31, 2019.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's motion to reverse a June 1988 rating decision that denied service connection for Scheuermann's kyphosis, finding no CUE.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to March 28, 2014 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU and there is no evidence of unemployability due to these conditions.
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