The veteran's claim for an initial rating evaluation in excess of 40 percent for service-connected musculoskeletal back pain was denied. The VA determined that the veteran's symptoms, as assessed by the most recent examination, do not warrant a higher disability rating.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes due to the severity of his motion limitation and lack of additional neurological findings.
- Claimed conditions
- musculoskeletal back pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 19, 2001
- Citation
- 0111383
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 0111383.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 17, 2008.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to changes in his employment situation and the need for a new VA examination assessing the functional impairment caused by his service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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