The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back conditions, right and left leg sciatica are not service connected as they did not begin during his active service or are otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran’s current low back disabilities began during his active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Condition (lumbar spine disorder), Right Leg Sciatica, Left Leg Sciatica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19177206
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,188 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19177206.
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: Granted
The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU were denied, but he was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to PTSD.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand directives and thus, another remand is needed before the Board can adjudicate these issues.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected back disability, right leg sciatica, and left leg sciatica were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or pain, as well as lack of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for the back disability is denied.,An initial rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for right leg sciatica secondary to service-connected back disability prior to January 25, 2012, is granted. A rating of 20 percent, but no higher, from January 25, 2012, to May 22, 2016, is also granted.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected back disability is denied.
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