The VA denied an increased evaluation for mechanical back pain, finding that the veteran's disability did not meet criteria warranting a higher rating.
The deciding factor: VA found no evidence of muscle spasm or additional functional loss due to pain or other pathology in the veteran's low back condition.
- Claimed conditions
- mechanical back pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2003
- Citation
- 0313818
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 0313818.
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 has denied the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between the current condition and active duty service.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an initial 60 percent rating for right knee osteoarthritis status post total knee replacement, restored a 20 percent disability rating for mechanical back pain, and denied compensable ratings for the right and left knee surgical scars.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the November 2019 remand directives and thus, another remand is necessary to identify all low back disabilities present during the appeal period and obtain medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his service and granted service connection for mechanical back pain and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine.
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