The Veteran's body aches, including degenerative changes in the hips and neck, are not considered to be related to herbicide exposure during service. The Board found that there is no evidence of such relationship.
The deciding factor: VA examiners determined that the Veteran’s current conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- body aches, degenerative changes in the hips and neck
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 26, 2021
- Citation
- 21024739
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 21024739.
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: Partly granted
The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus was denied. Service connection was granted for ear infections, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and hypertension. Claims for fatigue, body aches, joint pain were denied. Claims for left and right lower shin splints were remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of the anthrax vaccination, claimed as body aches and gastrointestinal problems. The claim is also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder with psychotic features; lumbosacral strain; and pseudofolliculitis barbae.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for body aches and fatigue, including chronic fatigue syndrome due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand instructions. Additional development is required, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, a copy of the May 19, 2015 VA examination report, authorization from relevant medical providers, and another VA examination.
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