The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in service and symptoms of arthritis were not chronic, thus denying his claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records showed no evidence of a chronic low back condition during service or within one year post-service. The VA examiner concluded that the current back condition is not related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Back disability (spondylolisthesis, stenosis, disc herniation)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19126624
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, and stenosis based on the evidence showing that these conditions originated during active service.
- Denied
The Board denied an effective date prior to May 27, 2021, for a 30 percent rating for the veteran's cervical spine condition. The veteran will receive the 30 percent rating starting from May 27, 2021.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection of a neck condition was dismissed. The veteran's rating for thoracic strain, lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease, and stenosis was restored to 40 percent. A 10 percent rating for bursitis in the right hip was granted. The claim for sleep apnea was remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disorder, finding that it was caused by an in-service injury during active duty for training (ACDUTRA). The decision resolves all doubts in favor of the Veteran.
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