The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including chronic low back strain and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with herniated discs, did not have its onset during service or as a result of an injury or event of service origin. The evidence is against a finding that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience by reason of his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The pre-existing lumbar strain was not aggravated beyond its normal progression during active duty, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of a chronic low back disability prior to service.
- Claimed conditions
- low back strain, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with herniated discs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 6, 2017
- Citation
- 1711052
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 1711052.
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
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- Denied
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