The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various back conditions, finding that there was no prior authorization from VA for the private medical care received and that the treatment did not relate to a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: VA determined that the private medical care provided by Lake Hospital West in Willoughby, Ohio, on January 29 to February 5, 1992 was not authorized prior to receipt of the services and did not relate to any service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical cranial syndrome, thoracic disc herniation, lumbar disc displacement, subluxation to C1, T9 and L5, degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, lumbalgia with paresthesia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 19, 2001
- Citation
- 0116547
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 0116547.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his lumbosacral spine disability was dismissed because he requested and received permission to withdraw his scheduled Board hearing.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for headaches, denied a higher rating for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, and denied an increased rating for PTSD.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that his symptoms began during his period of active service deemed as bad conduct and therefore not eligible for benefits.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's cervical degenerative disc disease and degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 are found to be etiologically related to active service, with the Board granting entitlement to service connection.
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