The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current low back disorder or fibrosis/respiratory disorder, and there is no evidence of such disorders during service. The veteran's claimed bilateral foot disorder, PTSD, chronic joint pain, and extreme body and joint pain upon exposure to sunlight or heat are also denied as there is insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
The deciding factor: The medical records do not show any current diagnoses for the claimed low back disorder or fibrosis/respiratory disorder. The veteran's complaints of respiratory symptoms post-service are attributed to smoking, and no competent evidence has been provided to link these disorders to active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disorder, Fibrosis/respiratory disorder, Bilateral foot disorder, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Chronic joint pain, claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness, Extreme body and joint pain upon exposure to sunlight or heat, claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 8, 2008
- Citation
- 0804546
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 0804546.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, bilateral knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral lower extremity conditions and PTSD, resulted in a loss of use of both lower extremities such that he is entitled to specially adapted housing.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the evidence did not show an in-service onset or relationship to service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.