The Board finds that the evidence of record supports an initial rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for residuals of a back injury disability throughout the rating period on appeal.
The deciding factor: There is no available evidence that would warrant a rating of 20 percent under any applicable diagnostic code. The Veteran was offered several opportunities to appear for VA examinations that may have proven beneficial to his claim, but he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a back injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 5, 2009
- Citation
- 0908215
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,374 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0908215.
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 remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of a pelvic injury, back injury, left hip injury, and head injury, as well as the issue regarding whether the injuries were due to willful misconduct.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to address his hypertension and psychiatric disorder.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the issues of service connection for a shoulder condition, residuals of a back injury, bilateral hearing loss, disability manifested by earaches, tinnitus, and headaches are remanded.
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