The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the back, bilateral knees, and neck, as well as his claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The denial was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish a causal relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the back, arthritis of bilateral knees, arthritis of neck
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 30, 2018
- Citation
- 18122455
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 18122455.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability is remanded due to the need for an orthopedic examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed condition. The examiner must identify each diagnosed back disability entity, its likely etiology, and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's arthritis of the back is granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted due to its presumptive relationship as a qualifying chronic disability under Persian Gulf War criteria.,Service connection for a skin disability, manifested by rashes of the hands and feet, is granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection for a gynecological disability, residuals of hysterectomy, is granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for neck disorder, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, headache disorder, and sleep disorder. The Veteran's claims for TDIU were also denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the back and remanded the TDIU claim prior to February 18, 2021.
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