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
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 684 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability, which includes instability and degenerative arthritis, was denied. The current 20 percent rating is upheld as the evidence does not support a higher rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a denial of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.