The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD with major depression and service connection for right shoulder, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The issues involving a higher rating for PTSD and service connection for a lumbar spine disability are remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the presence of chronic conditions in the right shoulder or lumbar spine, and there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with Major Depression, Right Shoulder Disability, Thoracic Spine Disability, Lumbar Spine Disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 4, 2010
- Citation
- 1008067
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 1008067.
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 a 70% rating for PTSD from November 25, 2015 to August 12, 2024 and a 40% rating for the right shoulder disability. It also granted 10% ratings for both feet and 20% ratings for knee patellofemoral pain syndromes.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including PTSD, IBS, cardiac arrhythmia, CFS, chronic headaches, chronic sinusitis, dyspnea, and fibromyalgia. The claim for bilateral pes planus was remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The character of the appellant's uncharacterized discharge is not a bar to the receipt of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits; to this extent only, the claim is granted.
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