The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative joint disease (DJD) as new and material evidence was not submitted.
The deciding factor: The new evidence did not provide a nexus between the current low back disability and military service, including any inservice injury.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative joint disease (DJD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 24, 2018
- Citation
- 18120554
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 18120554.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative joint disease but remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected back disability was granted a 40 percent evaluation, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of meningitis, increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea have been denied. The Board has also remanded several other issues related to the Veteran's disabilities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened. The Board finds that a remand is warranted to obtain missing STRs and private treatment records, as well as to schedule VA examinations for the left upper and lower extremity radiculopathy and cervical and lumbar disabilities.
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