The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 20, 2011 for the award of service connection for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine status post spinal fusion (low back disorder) was denied.,The Veteran's appeal challenging the March 2012 rating decision that granted entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder and assigned an effective date of December 20, 2011 due to CUE was also denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the original March 2012 rating decision that granted service connection for a low back disorder.,The Veteran's claim of CUE failed because he did not attend the originally scheduled VA examination, which resulted in his claim being denied.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine status post spinal fusion (low back disorder)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19191744
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 19191744.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a neck injury, including degenerative arthritis, IVDS, spinal stenosis, and history of spinal fusion, based on the evidence showing chronicity since service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 25, 2025 for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and levoscoliosis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a back condition to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining an appropriate medical examination and associated opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for a back disability based on new and relevant evidence, but remanded the issue for further development.
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