The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including degenerative disk disease (DDD), and a cervical spine disability, including DDD. The Veteran's current hip replacement was also not found to be related to service.,Service connection was denied as there is no evidence of chronic low back or cervical spine disabilities during service or within one year post-service, and the medical evidence does not support a link between these conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The Board concluded that the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine disabilities did not begin during service and are not related to in-service lifting duties. The hip replacement was also found not to be secondary to the lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability (DDD), cervical spine disability (DDD), left hip replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20061684
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 20061684.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than October 26, 2014, for service connection and TDIU were denied.,The Veteran's claim for DEA benefits was also denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection related to his bilateral hips, lumbar disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeals are being remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, left hip replacement, and PTSD. The decision grants special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment during the rating period prior to June 22, 2020. However, as he is now receiving a combined 100% rating for his service-connected disabilities effective June 22, 2020, entitlement to TDIU for this period is denied.
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