The Board found that the January 2008 rating decision granting service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral leg radiculopathy was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.
The deciding factor: There were conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative disc disease was caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back strain, but the July 2009 VA examiner provided a positive opinion supporting secondary service connection for aggravation of the condition by the service-connected low back strain and the private surgeon opined that the current back condition was related to prior body mechanics used during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L4-5 level, Bilateral leg radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2013
- Citation
- 1323082
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 1323082.
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.
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