The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability, including DDD with nerve root compression, spondylolisthesis, and residuals of an L1 fracture, is not related to his service. The September 1970 injury resolved without residual issues, and there is no evidence linking the current condition to service.
The deciding factor: The December 2013 VA examiner opined that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disabilities are less likely than not incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness, including his September 1970 fall injury. The examiner noted that the Veteran had no medical records documenting a back injury after service and diagnosed him with degenerative arthritis with disk herniation and remote fracture deformity lumbar spine found on MRI in 2009 which was 30+ years after his acute low back injury in 1970.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Nerve root compression, Spondylolisthesis, Residuals of an L1 fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 18, 2016
- Citation
- 1632823
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 1632823.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is being remanded due to a failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination in connection with her claim. The Board finds that this was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and requires rescheduling of the examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for his back disability is denied. The effective date remains March 29, 2021, as the earliest date of claim. An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the back disability from March 29, 2021, is also denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology since service and concluding that his current disabilities are more likely related to an in-service injury than to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative disc disease is related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.
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