The Board found that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the spine is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's current advanced degenerative disc disease was less likely caused by or resulting from his service on PCFs in Vietnam due to lack of symptoms, excessive pain, strain, or injury in his service medical records; the lack of symptoms or treatment obtained about a year after his discharge; and based on private treatment records where the doctor noted that the Veteran started having neck pain only in 2007.
- Claimed conditions
- osteoarthritis of the spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 1, 2013
- Citation
- 1335027
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 1335027.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision, and no good cause for extension was presented.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the spine and remanded his claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, a left arm disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, anxiety and depression).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of his private treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected osteoarthritis of the spine and its associated lumbar radiculopathy.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.
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