The veteran failed to report for necessary VA examinations, and the evidence does not support increased ratings or service connection for his claimed conditions.
The deciding factor: The veteran's failure to cooperate with scheduled VA examinations without good cause precluded a determination of the current severity of his disabilities, and the available evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the left knee status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and meniscus resection, Right ankle degenerative joint disease with instability, Right shoulder instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 27, 2009
- Citation
- 0902692
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 denied increased ratings for cervical spine, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder arthritis, left and right shoulder instability, and a right shoulder scar disabilities but granted restoration of the 20 percent rating for right shoulder instability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, and denied increased ratings for right shoulder instability, allergic rhinitis, scars, status post right shoulder arthroscopy, and staph MRSA. A separate compensable rating for a neurological disability of the right upper extremity was remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding that the current condition did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise etiologically related to active service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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