The Board denied service connection for flowing vertebral osteophytes consistent with DISH, finding that the Veteran's current condition is unrelated to his military service and any service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of a direct link between the Veteran’s inservice helicopter crash and his current thoracic spinal pathology.
- Claimed conditions
- flowing vertebral osteophytes consistent with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), arthritic changes, disc bulging of the thoracic spinal segment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19193130
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,421 · Granted: 29% (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 19193130.
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 Board granted service connection for a disorder manifested by right knee pain and arthritic changes, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his active duty service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right foot disabilities are service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's right foot issues, including arch collapse and tendon dysfunction, were due to active service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a failure of duty to assist, specifically regarding an inadequate examination. The Veteran's service records show treatment for neck pain and arthritis in service, but the examiner failed to consider this history.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back disability, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred in service due to chronic symptoms during and after service.
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