The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, which meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes. However, his refractive error does not meet any compensable rating under VA guidelines. Therefore, he cannot be granted a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.
The deciding factor: The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, which meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes. However, his refractive error does not meet any compensable rating under VA guidelines.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Injury, Refractive Error of the Eyes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 5, 2000
- Citation
- 0031683
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 0031683.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records. The VA must obtain relevant treatment records, conduct new examinations, and provide adequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back injury, left ankle injury, tinnitus, and major depressive disorder. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the reduction in rating for the Veteran's low back injury from 40 to 10 percent was improper and restored the original 40 percent rating. The issues of increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right lower extremities, as well as TDIU are remanded due to outstanding records.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies were granted increased ratings. The Veteran is currently rated at 40 percent for his low back disability and 10 percent each for his left and right lower extremity radiculopathies prior to April 23, 2015.
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