The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, increased rating for left wrist and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, increased rating for radiculopathy of the lower extremities, TDIU, earlier effective dates for ratings and SMC. The decision also found that the reduction in the rating for the thoracolumbar spine was improper.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show improvement sufficient to warrant a reduction from 20% to 10%. The Veteran's psychiatric disability was reopened due to new evidence, but the increase in left wrist disability and SMC were not factually ascertainable prior to November 22, 2011.
- Claimed conditions
- psychiatric disability (depression)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 17, 2016
- Citation
- 1619972
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 1619972.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and effective dates, including those for tinnitus, wrist scars, lower extremity radiculopathy, bulimia nervosa, psychiatric disability, benign neutropenia, herpes II, GERD, plantar fasciitis, and TDIU.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for left shoulder, back, and left leg disabilities have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for psychiatric disability (depression).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right foot disability, headache disability, chest pain disability, and psychiatric disability due to conflicting VA opinions and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's lay statements will be considered in determining the onset of each condition.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, eye disability, and psychiatric disability (depression). The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is not related to his service. His diabetes mellitus, type II, was not shown within one year of separation from service. His eye disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected condition. His depression is considered as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.,The Board also denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue.
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