The veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 9, 1998 and a rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected low back disability were denied. His claim for TDIU was also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support reopening the claim for service connection or establishing that the veteran's current disabilities are related to service, including inservice low back complaints and a vertebral fracture at L4.
- Claimed conditions
- failed back syndrome with lumbosacral arthralgia and compression deformity involving L4-5, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, L2-S1, with compression fractures, L4-L5, arthralgia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2002
- Citation
- 0203259
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 0203259.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a left ankle condition to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's tarsal tunnel syndrome, or any other possible ankle nerve disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the duty to assist and insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these disabilities, which she contends are related to her active-duty service or her service-connected knee condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to insufficient evidence showing she needed regular assistance, was bedridden, or housebound.
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