The Board denied service connection for low back disorder, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and TDIU. The Board found no in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between current disabilities and service.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a finding of an in-service injury or disease related to the current low back disorder or radiculopathy, and the Veteran's lay statements were found to be less probative than the clinical findings.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disorder, rheumatoid arthritis (degenerative arthritis) of the spine, radiculopathy, left lower extremity, radiculopathy, right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19171703
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 19171703.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disorder to obtain additional medical evidence and ensure that the Veteran is afforded every possible consideration.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a low back disorder was dismissed as the RO granted service connection in a November 2023 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and traumatic brain injury due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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