The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for spondylolisthesis, right leg radiculopathy, posterior trunk scars, painful scar, posterior midline spine, and anterior trunk scar.
The deciding factor: There is no factually ascertainable evidence that demonstrates that the Veteran had back scars prior to the February 23, 2021 spinal surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- spondylolisthesis, right leg radiculopathy, posterior trunk scars, painful scar, posterior midline spine, anterior trunk scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 7, 2025
- Citation
- A25021105
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,188 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25021105.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and the need for additional medical evidence. The Veteran's lower back disability, including lumbar strain and spondylolisthesis, is being reviewed again.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of adequate medical examination and treatment records, particularly regarding nerve conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for left arm, upper back, and right leg nerve damage and pain, as well as an increased evaluation for major depressive disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a back condition, including spondylolisthesis, as the evidence did not show permanent aggravation of the preexisting condition during service.
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