The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back condition, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current arthritis and any in-service injury or event. The preponderance of the evidence did not show continuity of symptomatology since service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the Veteran’s arthritis is less likely than not related to an in-service injury, including lumbar strain, due to a gap between his 1987 injury and surgery in 1992.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 9, 2018
- Citation
- 18124810
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 18124810.
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: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back pain is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including TBI residuals, right and left arm disorders, right and left foot disorders, a left sciatic nerve disorder, low back arthritis, and GERD. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of these conditions during or immediately after service, and the current diagnoses did not meet the criteria for service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not manifest in service and is less likely than not related to his military service. Service connection was also denied for blindness.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and bilateral knee arthritis are caused by gait changes resulting from his service-connected bilateral post-operative callosities and plantar warts of the feet.
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