The Board denied the claim for an increased rating for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of arthritis involving the shoulders and hands. The claim for service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, shoulders, and hands was also denied due to lack of competent evidence showing it is related to service or proximate thereto. The claim for benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional back disability resulting from colon surgery performed at a VA hospital in July 1997 was not well-grounded.
The deciding factor: The clinical evidence does not show arthritis involving the shoulders and hands, and no competent evidence has been submitted indicating that arthritis of the cervical spine, shoulders, and hands is related to service or proximate thereto, was manifested within the one-year presumptive period after service, or is related to the service-connected low back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the cervical spine, shoulders, and hands
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 18, 2000
- Citation
- 0024841
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 0024841.
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
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