The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a back injury, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD remains pending as it involves current diagnoses but requires further development due to conflicting evidence regarding in-service stressors. Service connection for bilateral knee pain and scars is also pending.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's STRs do not show any complaints, treatment or diagnosis of a back injury. The Board finds that the claim for residuals of a back injury must be denied as there is no current disability to connect with service.
- Claimed conditions
- back injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), bilateral knee pain, skin rashes and scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2014
- Citation
- 1413466
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 1413466.
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 the claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that new and relevant evidence supports these claims.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot hammer toe and bilateral knees are remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as their relationship to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's residuals of pneumonia are service-connected due to his military service and the presence of lung scarring from previous pneumonia episodes.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is service-connected based on in-service stressors.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to scheduling conflicts preventing VA examinations, and the claim for a higher rating based on multiple noncompensable disabilities is inextricably intertwined with other pending claims.
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