The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, as well as right and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's current back disability is not considered to have had its onset in service or be otherwise causally related to service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s current back disability did not have its onset in service or be causally related to service, based on a review of his STRs and medical records.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, Degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, status post C4-5 diskectomy and decompression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2021
- Citation
- 21010237
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 21010237.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and denied an initial compensable disability rating for tinea pedis of the right foot.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome is granted an increased rating to 40 percent, and no higher, as of May 4, 2021. The Veteran is also granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation at the '(l)' rate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Granted
The Veteran's rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome was reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective March 1, 2023. The Board found this reduction improper and restored the original 20 percent rating.
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