The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and a headache disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's military service.
The deciding factor: There was no medical evidence showing that the appellant had a low back or headache disorder during his active duty or within one year of separation. The initial clinical manifestations were not present until several years after service.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Disorder, Headache Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 31, 2003
- Citation
- 0336913
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 0336913.
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 claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury (TBI), seizures, neurocognitive disorder, and headache disorder to obtain a new VA examination and opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, service connection for a low back disorder, and earlier effective dates for TDIU, DEA eligibility, and SMC at the housebound rate.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right hand tremors as a manifestation of tardive dyskinesia and carotidynia due to enlarged lymph nodes, while denying service connection for other conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, gastric ulcer, submandibular scar, bone spurs of the feet, low back disorder, plantar fasciitis, enlarged right testicle, and cyst on the back.
- Granted
The Board granted initial disability ratings of 70 percent for PTSD, 50 percent for a headache disorder, and 20 percent for erectile dysfunction.
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