The veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings have been denied. The RO has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability manifested by abdominal pain, but his lumbar spine disorder is currently rated at 10%. His skin condition (melasma) remains non-compensable.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show an ascertainable medical disorder for the claimed abdominal pain. The RO determined that the veteran's lumbar strain with spondylosis warranted a 10% rating based on his subjective complaints of pain and no objective findings of limitation or functional loss. His skin condition (melasma) was rated non-compensable as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Abdominal Pain, Left Shoulder Condition, Lumbar Strain with Spondylosis, Melasma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 17, 2000
- Citation
- 0012976
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 0012976.
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 denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and a higher rating for migraines, and remanded claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders, abdominal pain, and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for generalized anxiety disorder, denied compensable ratings for external hemorrhoids and sinusitis, granted service connection for migraine headaches secondary to sinusitis, and granted service connection for left foot and left shoulder conditions. The claims for increased ratings for urethral stricture, lumbosacral strain, and ulnar neuropathy were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, left knee strain, and right knee strain. Service connection was denied for amenorrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and restless leg syndrome. Melasma was granted under the Persian Gulf War provisions.
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