The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral spine disability was granted, but the claim for a higher rating for residuals of left knee injury was not well-grounded as there is no evidence of such a condition during active duty or within one year after separation from service. Service connection for a secondary left rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritic changes to his service-connected left foot and lumbosacral spine disability was also denied.
The deciding factor: The veteran's claims were not well-grounded as there is no evidence of residuals of a left knee injury during active duty or within one year after separation from service. Service connection for the secondary condition was denied because there is no competent medical opinion linking the rotator cuff tear to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with a history of sprain, left rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritic changes
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 7, 2008
- Citation
- 0800487
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 0800487.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any related exposure.
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