The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back and left hip disabilities have been denied due to his failure without good cause to appear for scheduled VA examinations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran failed to report for the required VA examinations, which is a legal bar under 38 C.F.R. § 3.655(b).
- Claimed conditions
- chronic muscular strain of the low back, chronic muscular strain of the left hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20033971
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 20033971.
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: Granted
The veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities, including chronic back pain, left-sided weakness from a stroke, and PTSD, render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is unemployable due to his conditions and grants a permanent and total rating for pension purposes.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling him for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The VA denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his chronic muscular strain of the low back, superimposed on degenerative instability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and his lipoma of the left lateral lumbar area does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.
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