The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for a headache disorder and for a low back disorder. The issue of an increased rating for a right eye disability was remanded.
The deciding factor: There is no clear evidence of a current low back disorder incurred during active duty or ACDUTRA, nor any indication that the veteran's current low back symptoms are related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychiatric Disorder, Low Back Disorder, Right Eye Disability (Macular Scar)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 14, 2003
- Citation
- 0315958
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 0315958.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder and female sexual dysfunction, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are at least as likely as not related to her military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship of his psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea to his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The reduction of the disability rating for headaches from 50% to 30% is not proper and is void ab initio. Effective dates are denied for various service connection claims.,Multiple issues related to initial disability ratings, effective dates, and earlier effective dates for higher ratings are remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding whether a separate psychiatric disorder is superimposed on the Veteran's personality disorder. The case will be reviewed with a new examination to determine if there are any other service-connected conditions.
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