The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease L4-5 with generalized disc bulging and disc protrusions (lower back injury) due to lack of a causal link between the current disability and service.,The Board also denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy secondary to lower back injury as there was no evidence linking the condition to service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's lower back pain is not related to his military service, attributing it instead to a myelodysplastic syndrome diagnosed in 1999. The neuropathy was attributed to his myelodysplasia and other conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease L4-5 with generalized disc bulging and disc protrusions (lower back injury), Peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities (peripheral neuropathy)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19165983
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 19165983.
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
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