The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, including arthritis, spondylolisthesis, DJD, DDD, and status post fusion. The Veteran's current diagnosed conditions were not incurred in or related to active service.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show chronic symptoms of the back or neck during service or continuous since service, nor was there any showing that the current diagnoses are causally related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, arthritis, spondylolisthesis, cervical DJD, DDD, status post fusion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19129954
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal to obtain a VA medical opinion that considers the Veteran's contentions of in-service training with heavy gear and equipment.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for fibromyalgia was granted with an effective date of August 14, 2023. The appeals for earlier effective dates and higher ratings were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for further development, including obtaining new medical opinions and examination reports to address the issues of service connection and increased ratings.
- Granted
The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability since September 26, 2024.
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