The claims for service connection and effective date earlier than March 27, 2013 for hypothyroidism are denied. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is denied. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.
The deciding factor: The new evidence does not relate the conditions to service or service-connected disabilities, and there was no indication of intent to appeal prior to March 27, 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18156681
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 18156681.
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
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The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and lower extremity disorders, including as secondary to a lumbar spine disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.
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The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a failure to provide notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.
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