The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 10 percent, the neck disorder and back disorder were not related to service or a service-connected condition, the right shoulder disorder and left hip disorder were also not related to service or a service-connected condition, and the umbilical hernia was not listed among diseases for which presumptive service connection applies. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his combined disability rating did not meet the threshold for entitlement.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support granting any of the claims based on the criteria provided in the Diagnostic Codes and the lack of a nexus to service or a service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Disability, Neck Disorder - Arthritis of the Cervical Spine, Back Disorder - Arthritis of the Thoracolumbar Spine, Right Shoulder Disorder - Arthritis of the Right Shoulder, Left Hip Disorder or Left Lower Extremity Neurological Disorder - Arthritis of the Left Hip, Umbilical Hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 5, 2018
- Citation
- 1807352
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1807352.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Mays & Schnapp Pain Management and schedule the Veteran for additional medical examinations.
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