The Board found no evidence of an in-service low back injury or disease, and the current lumbar spine degenerative joint disease is not related to service. For psychiatric disorders, there was no corroborated in-service stressor for PTSD, and the acquired psychiatric disorders are not etiologically related to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's testimony regarding an in-service low back injury was inconsistent with the service treatment records, which did not indicate any such injury or disease. The Board also found that there was no corroborated in-service stressor for PTSD and that the acquired psychiatric disorders are not etiologically related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- low back degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 4, 2016
- Citation
- 1604182
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 1604182.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected low back degenerative joint disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and posttraumatic stress disorder prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from July 19, 2004 to October 10, 2004. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back degenerative joint disease is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability was denied in 2007 and reopened on September 4, 2009. The Board granted service connection but assigned an effective date of September 4, 2009.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further VA examinations and to obtain updated treatment records. The issues include increased disability ratings for various service-connected joint disabilities, as well as a claim for individual unemployability.
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