The Board has denied service connection for neck and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking the current conditions to service, with no indication of in-service injury or continuity of symptomatology.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no link between the Veteran's in-service reports of back pain and his current disability, and there is no positive medical opinion supporting the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the neck, Degenerative disc disease of the lower back
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 17, 2017
- Citation
- 1701131
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1701131.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lower back and obstructive sleep apnea due to secondary service-connected generalized anxiety disorder. The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss was also remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's neck disability and PTSD.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's neck and low back disabilities are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that these conditions were caused by his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective January 11, 2011. The Board finds that further development is needed for the issues of service connection for a right-hand trigger finger injury and degenerative disc disease of the neck.
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