The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition, including as secondary to his service-connected left knee. The Board found that there was no in-service event or aggravation related to the current condition and that the Veteran's condition is more likely due to factors such as age, weight, and repetitive stress from his occupation.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran did not have an in-service event or aggravation related to his current lower back condition, and thus denied service connection on a direct basis. The Board also found that the Veteran's right knee condition was not aggravated by his left knee condition.
- Claimed conditions
- lower back condition, mild degenerative disc disease of the lower thoracic spine, lumbar spondylosis, vertebral wedging at T11
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19124651
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right leg condition, sinusitis, lower back condition, and joint pain as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus (flat feet), bilateral ankle condition, bilateral knee condition, and lower back condition as there was no evidence of a current disability or that the disabilities were related to the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities, while severe, do not render him unable to obtain or maintain a gainful occupation.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of December 3, 2022, for the awards of service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, and lower back condition.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.