The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a herniated disc and remanded the claim for a back disability other than IVDS and a herniated disc, finding that there was no current diagnosis of a herniated disc.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of a herniated disc, and the Veteran's lay assertions were insufficient to establish service connection without medical evidence linking his claimed condition to service or a service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- herniated disc, back disability other than intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2025
- Citation
- A25034589
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, herniated disc, and lumbar radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot hammer toes with callousing and hallux valgus.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical radiculopathy, herniated disc, and spinal stenosis to obtain VA examinations to determine their nature and etiologies.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for back pain, chronic sciatica pain, herniated disc, and scoliosis due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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