The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis (other than spine), cervical disability, and a skin disability manifested by sores of the mouth and nose were denied as there is no competent evidence showing these conditions during her active duty or post-service. The Board found that she did not meet the threshold requirement to substantiate her claims.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's STRs do not show any chronic disabilities, and subsequent medical records are negative for arthritis (other than spine), cervical disability, or a skin disability manifested by sores of the mouth and nose. The Board found that she did not meet the threshold requirement to substantiate her claims.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis (other than spine), Cervical disability, Skin rash/toxicity/sores of the mouth and nose
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 7, 2015
- Citation
- 1514846
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 1514846.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cervical disability. The claim will be reconsidered with this information.
- Denied
The Board denied the Appellant's request for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in July 2024, as the May 2024 VA Form 21-526EZ submitted by the Appellant constituted an initial claim and not a supplemental one. The July 2024 Rating Decision was the initial decision on these issues.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for his psychiatric and cervical disabilities, as the evidence did not support an earlier effective date or a higher disability rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a cervical disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Polymyalgia rheumatica, finding that the Veteran's auto-immune disease caused or aggravated his current neck condition.
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.