The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his headache disorder and low back disability, as well as service connection for joint pain, muscle soreness, aches, weakness, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and skin rash due to undiagnosed illnesses. The evidence did not support an evaluation greater than 10 percent for headaches or a rating greater than 20 percent for the low back disability.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks of migraine headaches occurring on average once per month, nor severe intervertebral disc syndrome with recurring attacks and intermittent relief. The veteran's low back disability was evaluated as mild to moderate under various diagnostic codes, but no severe or pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome was demonstrated.
- Claimed conditions
- Headaches with neck pain, Herniated disc, lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 24, 2000
- Citation
- 0013666
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 0013666.
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 veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. It also granted initial ratings for various disabilities including a 20 percent rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis, a 30 percent rating for labral tear, including superior labral anterior-posterior lesion, status post surgical repair, and higher ratings for other conditions.
- Dismissed
The appeal for earlier effective dates for lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity sciatica was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the docketing of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The appeal to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral foot, lumbar spine, and right leg conditions is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
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