The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial evaluations have been denied. The current evaluations assigned are considered appropriate based on the evidence of record.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) of the left lower extremity, Degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, Left axillary and posterior chest wall neuropathy, Left side surgical scars, status post lobectomy, Respiratory disability characterized as status post lobectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 29, 2016
- Citation
- 1638537
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 1638537.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and panic disorder with alcohol use disorder (in remission), and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to consider if the Veteran's symptoms amount to functional ankylosis, which can establish entitlement to a higher disability rating for his service-connected thoracic spine.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including to consider the ameliorative effects of medications on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and to determine whether an effective date earlier than June 5, 2013 is warranted for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.
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