The veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to June 10, 1998, was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that from June 9, 1994 through March 26, 1998, the veteran's service-connected low back disability was productive of no more than the criteria associated with the 20 percent rating then in effect (characteristic pain on motion and slight vertebral deformity).
- Claimed conditions
- Multiple Myeloma, Fracture of Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- May 25, 2001
- Citation
- 0114796
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 0114796.
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 multiple myeloma is rated as noncompensable, and the Board has determined that the disability picture does not adequately contemplate his symptoms of fatigue. The VA examiner noted marked interference with employment due to fatigue. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating is remanded for consideration of extraschedular considerations.
- Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by multiple myeloma, which is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand during the Vietnam War. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death based on this presumption.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to December 2023 is remanded due to the presence of a 100% disability rating for multiple myeloma starting from December 21, 2023. The Board finds that the Veteran has not met the schedular criteria for a schedular TDIU rating and refers the case for extraschedular consideration.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fatigue, dizziness, and chronic kidney disease secondary to the Veteran's service-connected multiple myeloma due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.
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