Entitlement to service connection for back pain is denied.

Board reasoning

The Board found no credible evidence that the Veteran’s back pain began in service or within a year of discharge, and that post-service records do not show continuity. It weighed the Veteran’s and Appellant’s lay statements as less probative than medical records from treatment in 2009-2010 and earlier, which suggested onset around 1970, well after service. The Board concluded that, lacking a plausible nexus and with missing service records, a medical nexus opinion was not warranted and the claim was denied on the merits.