The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine condition, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation and is more persuasive against a secondary relationship to his service-connected varicose veins and diabetes.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners' opinions have all concluded that the Veteran's condition was most likely due to aging and obesity, and less likely than not related to his in-service back pain, varicose veins, or diabetes, including on the basis of secondary aggravation.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 20, 2023
- Citation
- 23023130
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 23023130.
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 has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions on etiology and a duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, and thoracolumbar spine condition are all granted as service-connected.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an error in providing notice of a pre-decisional hearing, and the Veteran is entitled to such a hearing before the AOJ.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal seeking revision of the September 15, 2014 rating decision that denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine condition on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) is dismissed.
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