The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10 percent disability evaluation for myofascial back pain syndrome, finding that there was no legal basis to assign such an earlier effective date.
The deciding factor: There were no unadjudicated claims or informal claims received prior to March 2, 1998, and the evidence did not show receipt of VA treatment records for the condition before this date.
- Claimed conditions
- myofascial back pain syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 1, 2002
- Citation
- 0207099
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 0207099.
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 reduction of the rating for myofascial back pain syndrome from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective September 1, 2020, was proper. The appeal is denied as there is no claim for a higher rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as the evidence does not show marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization due to his service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection for pain in major joints, and service connection for a heart disorder due to incomplete development of the record.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's clothing allowance for a back brace used due to her service-connected PTSD and other disabilities is granted.
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