The Veteran's current chronic back disorder is not shown to have been present during his military service or for many years thereafter, nor is it related to the Veteran's military service. The Board finds that service connection for a chronic back disorder is not warranted.
The deciding factor: There is no competent and probative evidence linking the Veteran's current chronic back disorder to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Back Disorder, Psychiatric Disorders (including schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type; bipolar disorder; paranoid schizophrenia; cognitive disorder, not otherwise specified; alcohol abuse; and depression)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 31, 2015
- Citation
- 1537179
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 1537179.
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 determined that the Veteran's PTSD is incurred in active military service and grants service connection for this condition. The other issues are being remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disorder or an acquired psychiatric disorder during service, and thus denied the veteran's claims for these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a chronic left ankle disorder and a chronic back disorder. The case is REMANDED for further development, including a VA examination.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to credible evidence of exposure to combat-compatible circumstances during his Southeast Asia service. The chronic back, hip, and TMJ disorders are not service-connected as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any other service-connected condition.
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