The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar-spine disorder, as secondary to and/or aggravated by service-connected left-lower-extremity varicose veins; increased disability evaluations for left-lower-extremity varicose veins and PTSD with insomnia.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the lumbar-spine disorder is less likely than not proximately due to or the result of service-connected left-lower-extremity varicose veins, based on MRI findings showing multiple degenerative disc disease and significant spinal stenosis. The Veteran's claim for increased disability evaluations was also denied.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar-spine disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 18, 2020
- Citation
- A20015661
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension (PACT Act), and prostate cancer (PACT Act). The claims for lumbar-spine disorder and obstructive sleep apnea were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for lumbar-spine disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his active service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his lung cancer was related to his service-connected melanoma.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.