The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD. The veteran's low back disorder was not found to be incurred in or aggravated by his active military service, nor is it considered secondary to the service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right clavicle. For PTSD, the Board found that the disability results in considerable social and industrial impairment but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for the low back disorder or secondary service connection due to the residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right clavicle. For PTSD, the Board found that the veteran's symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with a 50 percent disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- June 21, 2001
- Citation
- 0116859
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 0116859.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified depressive disorder with social anxiety disorder and PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for PTSD to be readjudicated on the merits due to new and relevant evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to or caused by the Veteran's military service.
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