The Board denied service connection for a back disability, neck disability, headaches, and neurological disabilities of the bilateral lower extremities. The left shoulder disability claim was remanded but no VA examination has been provided.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the STRs did not show any chronic symptoms of back, neck, or lower extremity disabilities during service. The VA examiner in August 2016 concluded that the left shoulder disability was not related to service based on lack of medical records showing shoulder difficulties.
- Claimed conditions
- Back Disability, Neck Disability, Headaches, Neurological Disability of Bilateral Lower Extremities, Left Shoulder Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19194511
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 19194511.
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.
- 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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and remanded the claims for a sleep disorder and headaches to ensure proper development of evidence.
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