The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.,Service connection was denied because there was no clear and unmistakable evidence showing pre-existing lumbar spine condition in service, and the VA examiner found no permanent aggravation during service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnoses of lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and peripheral neuropathy were not shown to be related to service. The Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence showing pre-existing lumbar spine condition in service, and the VA examiner found no permanent aggravation during service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20006252
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 lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right leg sciatica with radiculopathy pain and paresthesia, but denied increased ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left wrist limitation of motion with ganglion cyst, and service connection for headaches, unspecified. Several issues were remanded.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a disability rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus and a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, but granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.
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