The Board found that a chronic upper back disability of the thoracic and cervical spine did not have its onset during any period of active service, nor was it shown to be related to service-connected lumbar DDD with chronic lower back pain. The claim for service connection was denied.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's upper back disability had its onset in service or was caused by his service-connected low back condition.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic upper back disability, arthritis/DDD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 4, 2014
- Citation
- 1414943
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 1414943.
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 case for another VA examination to address whether the Veteran's upper back disability is related to his service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with chronic lower back pain or other service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
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- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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