The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for mechanical low back strain with degenerative joint disease and left shoulder tendonitis, as his conditions did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the veteran's symptoms were adequately addressed by the current 10 percent rating assigned for each condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Mechanical low back strain with degenerative joint disease, Left shoulder tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 9, 2008
- Citation
- 0842315
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0842315.
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: Dismissed
The appeal for basic eligibility for enrollment in the VA healthcare system is dismissed as the Veteran has a combined disability rating of 60 percent, which qualifies her for enrollment.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a combined rating of 100 percent for his service-connected disabilities from June 18, 2014, to August 23, 2021.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal seeking revision or reversal of the October 10, 2013, rating decision that denied entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is dismissed. The appeals seeking revision of the October 10, 2013, rating decision that denied entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left shoulder tendonitis are also denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran was granted an extraschedular TDIU from November 9, 2012 to December 13, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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