The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic stomach disorder and a lumbar spine disorder. The claim for the stomach disorder was previously denied in December 1980, and no new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen it. For the lumbar spine disorder, the competent medical evidence does not support a finding of service connection.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not establish that any current lumbar spine disorder is related to the veteran's active military service or any incident thereof.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic stomach disorder, diverticulosis of the proximal descending colon and distal sigmoid colon, internal hemorrhoids, polyp, gastritis, duodenitis
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 22, 2004
- Citation
- 0430961
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 0430961.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to unclear evidence regarding the diagnosis of gastritis and its relation to service. The Veteran needs to provide records, and a VA examiner will review his medical history and determine if gastritis is related to his military service or any other conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that remand is needed for the Veteran's claims due to duty to assist errors, including clarification of periods of service and obtaining relevant records. The Veteran will be afforded new medical examinations for each claimed disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's gastritis and esophageal stricture are granted as service-connected.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the requirements for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because he was not continuously rated totally disabled for a period of 10 or more years immediately preceding his death.
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