The appeal for service connection for low back pain is dismissed.,A higher initial (compensable) disability rating for the service-connected undiagnosed illness manifested by headaches from November 9, 2001 to September 4, 2009 is denied; a higher initial rating of 30 percent, but not higher, for the period from September 4, 2009, is granted.,For the period from May 25, 2013, a separate rating of 20 percent for the service-connected undiagnosed illness manifested by fatigue and muscle twitching is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran asked to withdraw the issue of service connection for low back pain.,For the initial rating period from November 9, 2001 to September 4, 2009, the criteria for a higher (compensable) initial disability rating for the service-connected undiagnosed illness manifested by headaches have not been met.,Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran’s favor, for the initial rating period from September 4, 2009, the criteria for a higher initial disability rating of 30 percent for the service-connected undiagnosed illness manifested by headaches have been met. For the period from May 25, 2013, the criteria for a separate 20 percent rating for the service- connected undiagnosed illness manifested by fatigue and muscle twitching have been met.
- Claimed conditions
- undiagnosed illness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 19, 2018
- Citation
- 18112315
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 18112315.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's daily fatigue is not addressed by the October 2024 VA examiner, and the Board finds remand necessary to address this issue. The examiner should consider whether the fatigue can be attributed to a known clinical diagnosis or service connection.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 1117 and residuals of malaria preventative medication.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and an undiagnosed illness have been denied as there is no confirmed diagnosis of these conditions in the medical records, and they are not considered presumptively related to service.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for sinusitis and an undiagnosed illness as the Veteran's sinusitis is already service-connected.
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