The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the back and right shoulder, as well as residuals of a brain concussion. The denial is based on the lack of available service medical records due to their destruction in a fire at the National Personnel Records Center.
The deciding factor: Service medical records are unavailable through no fault of the veteran, leading to a denial of service connection for arthritis and residuals of a brain concussion.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the back, residuals of a brain concussion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 14, 2000
- Citation
- 0032707
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 0032707.
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 Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability is remanded due to the need for an orthopedic examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed condition. The examiner must identify each diagnosed back disability entity, its likely etiology, and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's arthritis of the back is granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted due to its presumptive relationship as a qualifying chronic disability under Persian Gulf War criteria.,Service connection for a skin disability, manifested by rashes of the hands and feet, is granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection for a gynecological disability, residuals of hysterectomy, is granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the back and remanded the TDIU claim prior to February 18, 2021.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of arthritis of the back as the Veteran withdrew her appeal prior to a decision being made.
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