The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and a cervical spine disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, or a causal relationship between the claimed conditions and the Veteran's military service.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show a current diagnosis of a low back disorder or functional impairment, and there was no evidence of an in-service incurrence or aggravation of a cervical spine disorder. The Board found that the claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking the conditions to the Veteran's military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disorder, Cervical spine disorder (degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2022
- Citation
- 22000153
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 claim for a low back disorder to correct duty to assist errors, as the previous VA examinations and opinions are inadequate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hearing loss, psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, and radiculopathy of both upper and lower extremities to correct duty-to-assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of a disability rating for a low back disorder and entitlement to TDIU due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity on a secondary basis, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity on a secondary basis.
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