The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including DDD and spondylolithesis, did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge. The examiner opined that it is less likely than not related to his active duty service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within the presumptive period for arthritis, and concluded that the Veteran's current lumbar spine pathology was due to normal wear and tear rather than an in-service injury.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine DDD, radsulopathy, L5-S1 spondylolithesis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 4, 2013
- Citation
- 1307322
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 1307322.
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 Veteran's lumbar spine DDD, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic and femoral nerves), and back scar status post laminectomy are all granted effective December 22, 2013.,Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is also granted effective December 22, 2013.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left elbow sprain, right elbow enthesophyte, left knee strain and enthesophyte, right knee strain, and right leg radiculopathy but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The veteran's request for a rating higher than 70% for PTSD with opioid use disorder and TBI residuals was denied. However, the veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left knee DJD, right knee DJD, lumbar spine DDD, and cervical spine DDD as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.
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