The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The cervical spine disability was rated as 20% prior to September 17, 2002 and 40% thereafter. The wrist injury with ulnar neuropathy and right shoulder strain were both rated at 10%. No earlier effective date was granted for the service connection of right shoulder strain.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc and joint disease of cervical spine, Right shoulder strain, Residuals of right wrist injury with ulnar neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 22, 2010
- Citation
- 1003396
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 1003396.
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 an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a mood disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for chronic kidney disease and service connection for blurry vision, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder strain.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed all claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for service-connected conditions, as well as the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, due to the Veteran's death and the fact that no unadjudicated issues were pending at the time of his passing.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and related knee and shoulder strains as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.
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