The Board found that the Veteran's current back and neck disabilities are not related to service, specifically a motorcycle accident in October 1986. The disability was determined to be unrelated to any event, injury or disease during service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's back disability is less likely caused by the motorcycle accident or any other in-service event, injury, or disease due to a long delay in onset of symptoms and lack of complaints prior to 15 years after service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the cervical spine, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 10, 2017
- Citation
- 1715678
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 1715678.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical examination and opinion to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, including DDD of the lumbar spine. The current VA opinions are deemed inadequate due to their failure to consider the Veteran's lay reports of in-service injury and continuous symptomatology since service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examiner's opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities result in loss of use and if so, whether he requires aid and attendance without considering such disability/ies. The Veteran also needs to be considered for SMC R1 based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
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