The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left arm disability, increased evaluation of L5-S1 spondylolisthesis, and compensable evaluations for scar of right knee and hiatal hernia. The veteran currently has a 40 percent rating for his L5-S1 spondylolisthesis.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support the presence of a left arm disability or any other condition that would warrant service connection, and the current level of disability was rated as 40 percent disabling based on the criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome prior to September 23, 2002.
- Claimed conditions
- Left arm disability, L5-S1 spondylolisthesis, status post fusion, Hiatal hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 22, 2003
- Citation
- 0309769
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 0309769.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, a left knee disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, and diverticulitis. A 30 percent rating was also granted for the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder effective February 26, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinion and correcting duty to assist errors.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral cataracts and noncompensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and maxillary and frontal sinusitis, while granting a 30 percent rating for hiatal hernia.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for COPD on a direct basis and denied the claim for a left arm disability.
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