The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the back and headaches secondary to a head injury. The RO denied these claims in March 1987, but new evidence submitted since then supports reopening the claims.
The deciding factor: New medical notes indicate that the veteran's current back condition may be related to his military service, contradicting the previous denial based on lack of evidence within one year of discharge.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the Back, Headaches secondary to a head injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2001
- Citation
- 0112568
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 0112568.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis and skin cancer are not related to his military service, but new medical opinions are needed to address these claims.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since September 26, 2012, to June 28, 2016. The claim for service connection of a back disability and cervical spine disability has been granted.
- Denied
The Board finds that a back disability was not present until more than one year after the Veteran's discharge from service and is unrelated to his active service. The only medical opinions on the question of etiology are against the claim.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not otherwise related to service. The Board also determined that the back disorder is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.