The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for mid-back and low-back disorders is not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking a current disorder to service.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence linking a current diagnosed disability to service.
- Claimed conditions
- mid-back disorder, low-back disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 20, 2000
- Citation
- 0016355
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0016355.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low-back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, IVDS and degenerative arthritis, is service-connected as it was incurred during active service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the claims file after previous decisions and remands. The Veteran's appeal is being returned to the AOJ for review of this new evidence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded five claims: four for service connection and one for psychiatric disorders. The AOJ is directed to obtain SSA records related to the Veteran's disability benefits applications.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA medical records, specifically a visit to a VA emergency room and an MRI report from three months prior to the hearing. The Veteran's representative requested these records for consideration in a medical opinion.
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