The Board found that the Veteran's low back condition was not incurred or aggravated during active duty service and is not related to service. The VA examiner concluded that it was less likely than not that the Veteran's back condition was caused by his military service.
The deciding factor: There were no complaints of back pain on the March 1967 separation examination report or records of in-service treatment of back pain after the September 1965 accident, and the VA examiner concluded there was no documentation of a nexus between the Veteran's military service and his degenerative disc disease.
- Claimed conditions
- low_back_condition, degenerative_disc_disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 10, 2014
- Citation
- 1405822
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 1405822.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and evidence. The respiratory condition claim is related to exposure during training, while the low back condition claim requires a new examination considering the in-service fall.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease and low back strain, had its onset during his active duty service or within one year thereafter. The decision grants service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disabilities, including low back syndrome and degenerative disc disease, are related to service. The criteria for service connection have been met.
- Denied
The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as there is no credible evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation. The claim is therefore denied.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.