The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show any new or material evidence to reopen previously denied claims, nor did it demonstrate symptoms that would warrant a higher rating based on the current disability picture.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee disability, rotator cuff tear of the subluxation bicipital tendon, left shoulder, synovial cyst, left thumb, status post cystectomy and metacarpophalangeal joint fusion with residual scar, residual scar status post iliac crest bone graft for left hand, residual scar status post left wrist bone graft for left thumb
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 18, 2018
- Citation
- 1803390
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 1803390.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the service connection claim for a bilateral knee disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, including scheduling an additional VA examination.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and chronic pain syndrome due to untimely notices of disagreement.
- Dismissed
The appeal concerning the service connection for various conditions and the propriety of a rating reduction has been withdrawn by the Appellant.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chest pain, a gastrointestinal disability, a neck disability, and a bilateral knee disability. The Veteran was also denied a compensable rating for iliotibial band syndrome of the right hip and for right hip limitation of extension.
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