The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between her current disabilities and her military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of chronic lumbar spine condition during the Veteran’s active service and noted that the Veteran's in-service back injuries likely resolved prior to her discharge.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, degenerative disc disease, facet joint arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20068717
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for further development, including obtaining new medical opinions and examination reports to address the issues of service connection and increased ratings.
- Granted
The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability since September 26, 2024.
- Dismissed
The appeal to reopen the previous denial of service connection for lumbosacral strain is dismissed as the benefit sought has been fully granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and TDIU due to missing records.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.