The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with myofascial pain and radiculopathy is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.
The deciding factor: VA examiners' opinions found no evidence to support a secondary service connection for the Veteran's low back disorder due to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, as there was no significant gait abnormality that could cause or aggravate the low back condition.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with myofascial pain and radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 29, 2015
- Citation
- 1554198
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1554198.
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: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is not directly related to his military service and denied the claim for direct service connection. The issue of secondary service-connection is being remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
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