The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a respiratory disorder (including sinusitis with headaches), a headache disorder, a hemorrhoidal disorder, and a low back disorder. The claim to reopen service connection for diabetes mellitus was also denied. Additionally, the original rating in excess of 10 percent for generalized joint pain due to undiagnosed illness and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus were denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct service connection for any of the claimed conditions, except for the low back disorder which was considered part of the service-connected generalized joint pain due to undiagnosed illness. The other claims were denied as not well-grounded or without new and material evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory disorder (including sinusitis with headaches), headache disorder, hemorrhoidal disorder, low back disorder (degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine), fatigue
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2002
- Citation
- 0214316
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 0214316.
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 Board has determined that the AOJ did not obtain all necessary opinions regarding whether the Veteran's symptoms are related to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI). The claims for service connection for fatigue, fibromyalgia, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, and sleep disorder are remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, as secondary to tinnitus, is granted. The claims for service connection for hearing loss disability and a disability manifested by shortness of breath other than chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are denied. The claims for service connection for an intestinal disability (diverticulitis), fatigue, hypertension, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, upper and lower back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right hip disability, left hip disability, right foot pain, left foot pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and headache disorder, and thus these claims are remanded for readjudication.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, joint pain (claimed as arthritis), sleep apnea, fatigue, neck condition, acne, and lung condition. The evidence did not show a current disability or link to military service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.