The Board denied service connection for a low back disability multiple times, and the Veteran's claim was reopened in 2010. The effective date of service connection is set at June 29, 2010.
The deciding factor: Clear and unmistakable error (CUE) has not been established to warrant an earlier effective date for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 15, 2018
- Citation
- 1809299
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 1809299.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, as well as other conditions, have been considered. The claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a left elbow injury is granted, with an effective date to be determined based on further review. Service connection for varicose veins was denied previously. Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for dental issues has also been addressed.
- Denied
The Veteran's degenerative intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher initial rating than the currently assigned 20 percent evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine with left lower extremity radiculopathy is being remanded due to incomplete development and additional evidence needed.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine and right S-1 sensory radiculopathy were denied as they did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.
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