The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, including levoscoliosis and degenerative joint disease (DJD), finding that there was no evidence of aggravation beyond normal progression during service and insufficient medical evidence linking current DJD to service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's DJD is less likely than not incurred in or caused by his service, due to lack of a diagnosis within one year post-service and obesity as a contributing factor.
- Claimed conditions
- levoscoliosis, degenerative joint disease (DJD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19182628
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,036 · Granted: 27% (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 19182628.
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 appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome and levoscoliosis has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial ratings of her left shoulder strain and cervical spine disability due to new evidence or further clarification from the AOJ.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was granted, with the Board finding that his current disabilities are related to his in-service diagnoses of sacralization and pseudoarthrosis.
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