The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and neuropathy of the left leg, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current conditions and his military service.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence did not establish a link between the Veteran’s current disabilities and his active duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine, Intervertebral Disc Syndrome, Spinal Stenosis, Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2021
- Citation
- 21024397
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 21024397.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including diagnosed degenerative arthritis with DDD other than intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis status post L3, L4, and L5 laminectomy. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury and his ongoing symptoms since then.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of representation.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology since service and concluding that his current disabilities are more likely related to an in-service injury than to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found the reduction in rating for spinal stenosis, lumbar disc disease, and Schmorl's nodes from 20% to 10% was improper. The 20% rating is restored. However, the issues of increased ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and ankle conditions are remanded due to a duty to assist error.
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