The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity neurological, and left upper extremity neurological disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinions found the Veteran's claimed spinal and neurological disabilities less likely than not related to his in-service injuries or diseases, citing to the absence of chronic manifestations during service and post-service continuity of symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine disability (degenerative arthritis), Lumbar spine disability (degenerative arthritis), Bilateral lower extremity neurological disability, Left upper extremity neurological disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20072168
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 denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a left upper extremity neurological disability secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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.