The Veteran's service connection claims for left elbow condition, low back condition, and major depressive disorder have been granted. His claim for high cholesterol was denied as it is not a compensable disability. The Veteran's increased rating for major depressive disorder has been granted to 70 percent effective April 23, 2010.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran currently suffers from left elbow bone spurs and degenerative joint disease, ulnar focal neuropathy at the elbow level, lumbar myositis with bulging discs causing foraminal stenosis, and major depressive disorder. These conditions are causally related to his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- left elbow bone spurs, left elbow degenerative joint disease, ulnar focal neuropathy, lumbar myositis, bulging discs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 15, 2012
- Citation
- 1209700
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 1209700.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's lower back disability and radiculopathy were rated at 40 percent, but the Board found no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes warranting a higher rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective from April 8, 2010. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to work due to his lumbar myositis starting in April 2010.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbar myositis and service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Board will obtain new examinations and opinions to address the severity of his lumbar disability and the etiology of his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.
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