The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The clinical findings do not meet the criteria for more than slight limitation of motion or instability, which would warrant an increase in disability ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Low Back Strain, Osteoarthritis of the Right Knee, Osteoarthritis of the Left Knee, Degenerative Changes in the Right Ankle, Osteoarthritis of the Left Ankle, Tendonitis of the Right Shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 29, 2002
- Citation
- 0205523
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 0205523.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, along with other service-connected disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Effective January 28, 2020, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on these conditions. Additionally, effective January 28, 2020, he is also granted SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, hypertension as secondary to PTSD is granted, and the Veteran is granted TDIU based on her service-connected PTSD. Osteoarthritis of the right knee is not related to service, but she is granted SMC due to her service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 13, 2018.
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