The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's lower back disability, concluding that it did not have its onset during active duty or within a year of separation. The evidence showed no chronic low back issues in service and no manifestations of arthritis outside of the presumptive period.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the current low back condition is less likely caused by an in-service injury, as there was no chronicity of symptoms during active duty or within a year post-separation. The Veteran's reports of continuous symptomatology since service were not credible given his consistent denial of recurrent back pain in clinical settings between 1977 and 1995.
- Claimed conditions
- lower back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20067070
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 a lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during his service and has progressively worsened since separation.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective March 8, 2023, but no earlier. Other claims were denied or remanded.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for lower back disability, right shoulder disability, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) was denied due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, a lower back disability, residuals of inguinal hernia repair, residuals of umbilical hernia repair, and sinusitis. Service connection was denied for an ulcer, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and acne.
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