The Veteran's current back disability is not etiologically related to service. Service connection for degenerative disc disease lumbar spine, post spinal fusion is denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no medical evidence supporting chronicity of symptomatology related to a back condition and concluded the Veteran’s lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was less likely as not caused by or a result of in-service events/injury.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease lumbar spine, post spinal fusion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19155672
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19155672.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to their death.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and granted a 20 percent rating for the left ankle disability, while denying all other claims.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability and a higher rating for his left shoulder disability is granted, effective July 23, 2013. The May 2014 decision denying these claims based on CUE is revised.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
Your previously restored 40 percent rating for scoliosis, diffuse degenerative joint disease, and degenerative disc disease lumbar spine is dismissed as moot because the claim has been granted.
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