The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is not related to his active service or due to a service-connected disability, including as secondary to his service-connected pes planus and bilateral ankle disabilities.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a finding of any potential relationship between the Veteran's currently diagnosed back disability and his active service on a direct basis. The preponderance of the evidence also weighs against a finding that his back disorder was caused or aggravated in any manner by his service-connected pes planus or bilateral ankle disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease, lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity sciatica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 6, 2017
- Citation
- 1750373
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 1750373.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 13, 2020 for the service connection of low back disability and related radiculopathy issues. The Veteran's claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted in January 2020.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for lumbar spine arthritis and right lower extremity sciatica have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatica, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain. The decision is based on a finding of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) are granted effective May 12, 2025. The decision is based on the combination of his service-connected disabilities rendering him unemployable as of that date.
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