The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is not related to his active duty service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of a chronic back disability, and there is no credible continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran's statements regarding the onset and nature of his lumbar spine symptoms are inconsistent with other medical records and do not provide sufficient basis for granting service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint and disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 10, 2016
- Citation
- 1605155
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 1605155.
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: Granted
The Veteran's initial rating for chronic thoracolumbar strain, with degenerative joint and disc disease was granted at a 20 percent disability rating prior to February 4, 2014. From that date, the Veteran's condition is rated at 20 percent.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back and neck disorders, including whether they are related to service or a service-connected disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for cervical spine disability with spondylosis and C5 radiculopathy, effective from the date of the May 2002 decision. The lumbosacral spine disability remains noncompensable.
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