The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, spondylolisthesis, and compression fracture at L2, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.
The deciding factor: The December 2024 VA examiner's opinion was considered most persuasive, indicating it was less likely than not that the Veteran's back disorder was related to his service due to the lack of in-service treatment and the presence of post-service factors contributing to the condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Degenerative Arthritis, Spondylolisthesis, Compression Fracture at L2
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 7, 2025
- Citation
- 25008867
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 lumbar spine disability as secondary to a cervical spine disability due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a back condition to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining an appropriate medical examination and associated opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathy, as the record does not include all relevant treatment records prior to back surgery.
- Denied
The appeal of a proposed reduction of the evaluation of left knee meniscal tear, status post arthroscopic repair with chondromalacia, to include degenerative arthritis from 20 percent to 10 percent is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left knee disability was also denied.
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