The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for thoracic spine disability is denied. Initial compensable ratings are denied for erectile dysfunction and headaches, and effective dates prior to August 31, 2010 are denied for cervical spine disability, ED, and headaches.
The deciding factor: No new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for thoracic spine disability. The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for erectile dysfunction and headaches were not supported by medical evidence showing specific conditions or symptoms warranting such a rating. Effective dates prior to August 31, 2010 were denied as there was no informal or formal claim or written intent to file a claim in these matters prior to that date.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracic spine disability, Cervical spine disability, Erectile dysfunction (ED), Headaches
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19104157
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, a back disability, heart disability, and residuals of a stroke, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service or caused by his service-connected left ear disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and right leg nerve disability as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal in September 2025, stating that she is now 100% permanently and totally disabled effective April 29, 2025.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with TBI and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for headaches as secondary to PTSD with TBI due to a duty to assist error.
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