The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back degenerative disc disease (DDD) as there was no direct evidence linking his current condition to his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinions found that the Veteran's lay observations of intermittent back pain do not raise reasonable doubt that arthritis existed during service or is the cause of his post-service symptoms, and thus are insufficient to establish service connection based on continuity of symptomatology.
- Claimed conditions
- low back degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23023326
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 23023326.
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 granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's low back disability effective January 17, 2023, based on evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee, hip, and low back degenerative arthritis as well as right and left lower extremity neuropathy that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus with DJD.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various foot, ankle, and knee conditions as the Veteran withdrew his claims.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for low back degenerative disc disease, back strain, and arthritis, finding that the current disabilities are related to an in-service injury in 1986 while serving in the Army Reserves.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.