The Board denied service connection for residuals of a low back injury and claimed pancreatitis, as well as the assignment of an initial compensable evaluation for cholecystectomy with incidental appendectomy.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence linking current low back strain or pancreatitis to service. The veteran's claim for increased rating for cholecystectomy was denied due to lack of symptomatology and a finding that the disability does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Pancreatitis, Residuals of a low back injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2003
- Citation
- 0308035
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 0308035.
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 remands the service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and pancreatitis due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring further medical examination.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's acne was granted a 10 percent rating for the period prior to March 26, 2021, and denied a compensable rating thereafter. Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus and pancreatitis as secondary conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, IBS, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The effective date of March 7, 2022, was granted for the award of service connection for right lower extremity sciatica, and November 18, 2021, was granted for GERD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease including myocarditis and pericarditis, hypertension, and pancreatitis as secondary to alcoholism due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. Service connection was also granted for left ear hearing loss and arthritis of the left hand on a direct basis.
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.