The Board denied service connection for a lumbar back disability, finding that the Veteran's condition did not manifest during active service or until many years after service and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service event.
The deciding factor: There was no evidence of chronic low back symptoms during service, and the gap between service discharge and first reported symptoms was significant. The VA examiners provided negative opinions for direct service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 3, 2023
- Citation
- 23059492
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 23059492.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar back disability, and bilateral feet disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 15, 2007. The increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for lumbar back disability, nose cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma. The soft tissue sarcoma claim was remanded due to the need for further evaluation.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left testicle disorder, lumbar back disability, and respiratory ailment (emphysema). The decision also notes that new evidence submitted since the final denial is not considered material to reopen the claim of service connection for the left testicle disorder.
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