The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing low back disorder was not aggravated by military service.
The deciding factor: No evidence of aggravation during service and a lengthy period without pertinent diagnosis or treatment post-service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2018
- Citation
- 18108536
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 18108536.
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 case due to a need for an adequate VA examination and retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, particularly in relation to limited range of motion and associated functional impairment.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal of the propriety of the reduction from 40 percent to 10 percent disabling, effective May 18, 2021, for service-connected degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew the appeal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations, missing treatment records, and procedural errors. The claims will be returned to the RO for further development.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is related to his active-duty service and grants service connection for this condition.
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