The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the assertions of a back disability due to ankle disabilities or any other disease or injury in service.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show current back disability due to service or the service-connected disability, and the examiner opined that the veteran's back condition was not likely related to his ankles.
- Claimed conditions
- Back Disability, Left Ankle Disability, Right Ankle Disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2003
- Citation
- 0308385
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 0308385.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and remanded the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a back disability, and sinusitis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia, but denied service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, intestinal condition (chronic colitis), and chronic migraine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.
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