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Denied

The Veteran's claims for service connection for aseptic meningitis, an impaired immune system, and a pinched nerve of the lower back have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims. The claim for degenerative disc disease (back disability) is also denied.,Service connection for secondary conditions related to aseptic meningitis was not granted due to lack of supporting evidence. Service connection for an impaired immune system and pinched nerve of the lower back were denied as there was no new and material evidence presented, and the Veteran's assertions were considered previously before the RO at the time of its prior decisions.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease (back disability) to include as secondary to aseptic meningitis is also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a back disability due to service, and thus could not establish direct service connection.

The deciding factor: The new evidence submitted since the May 2007 rating decision was deemed insufficient to reopen the claims for service connection for aseptic meningitis, as it did not provide any new information that would support the claim.,Service connection cannot be granted for secondary conditions related to aseptic meningitis due to lack of supporting evidence. The Veteran's assertions regarding the relationship between his back disability and aseptic meningitis were considered previously before the RO at the time of its prior decisions, and thus could not be considered new and material.,Service connection cannot be granted for degenerative disc disease (back disability) as secondary to aseptic meningitis due to lack of evidence showing that the Veteran's back condition was caused or aggravated by service.

Claimed conditions
aseptic meningitis, impaired immune system, pinched nerve of the lower back, degenerative disc disease (back disability)
How they argued it
Reopened with new and material evidence
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
None in this decision
Decision date
February 13, 2019
Citation
19111613

Veterans Law Judge

MICHAEL E. KILCOYNE

Decisions by this judge: 2,020 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)

Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.

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 19111613.

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