The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, low back disability, and left upper extremity disability (claimed as cervical radiculopathy) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,The Board also denied an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction.
The deciding factor: Service connection was not established because there is no medical evidence showing a link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service. The VA examinations did not find any evidence of in-service injury or chronic disability.,The rating for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction remained at 20 percent as the criteria for higher ratings (requiring insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities) were not met.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine disability, low back disability, left upper extremity disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19102487
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 claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, right hip condition, left hip condition, low back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as there was no evidence of in-service injury or illness related to these conditions.
- 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.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.