The Board has denied the appellant's claim for service connection for benign essential tremors, finding that his condition preexisted his period of active duty and was not aggravated by such. The appeal regarding an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine herniated disc is addressed in the REMAND portion.
The deciding factor: The appellant's benign essential tremor condition had its onset prior to service, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it was aggravated by his period of active duty. The Board found that the claimant has not established aggravation under VA law.
- Claimed conditions
- benign essential tremors, lumbar spine herniated disc, L4-5, with intervertebral disc syndrome and right sciatica and radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 18, 2013
- Citation
- 1302093
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1302093.
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 an acquired psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder and alcohol use disorder) and unspecified neurocognitive disorder and benign essential tremors (claimed as Parkinson's Disease).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for benign essential tremors, including spasmodic torticollis, is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The examiner must determine if the condition likely began during service or is related to toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) experienced in service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for benign essential tremors and chronic kidney disease, finding that the conditions did not begin within one year of separation from active duty or were not related to service exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for tremors as there is no evidence linking the condition to active duty service.
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