The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability, including DJD and DDD of the lumbosacral spine, is not related to her service or any incident therein. The Board concluded that there was no chronicity of a low back condition in service and that the mild thoracic scoliosis noted during service did not cause or aggravate the Veteran's current disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the brief episodes of muscular pain reported in service were common occurrences and not indicative of significant spinal conditions. The mild thoracic scoliosis was also considered congenial and unrelated to activity.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, Thoracic spine arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 8, 2018
- Citation
- 1828213
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 1828213.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and depressive disorder. However, it granted a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.
- Denied
The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for DJD of the lumbar spine from February 25, 2016 to September 15, 2023 and denied a rating in excess of 40 percent from September 16, 2023.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The Veteran was also granted an increased rating of 30 percent for his scars.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial evaluations for DJD of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of both lower extremities have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.
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