The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including DJD and a fractured coccyx, finding that there was no evidence of such disabilities being related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran’s current lumbar spine disability, including DJD and a fractured coccyx, began during active service or was otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, Fractured coccyx
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20063180
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 20063180.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted increased ratings for TBI residuals and migraine headaches, as well as an earlier effective date for certain benefits, but denied increased ratings for PTSD and major depressive disorder and the fractured coccyx.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and depressive disorder. However, it granted a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for DJD of the lumbar spine from February 25, 2016 to September 15, 2023 and denied a rating in excess of 40 percent from September 16, 2023.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The Veteran was also granted an increased rating of 30 percent for his scars.
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