The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder, lumbar spine, and right knee degenerative arthritis have been denied as the evidence does not show that his conditions meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating under the applicable rating schedule.
The deciding factor: The objective medical evidence did not document any form of ankylosis in the Veteran's right shoulder, unfavorable ankylosis in the entire thoracolumbar spine, or limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or worse in his right knee for any period on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Degenerative Arthritis, Lumbar Spine Degenerative Arthritis, Right Knee Degenerative Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19104117
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder strain with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and tendinitis, cervical spine spondylosis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar scoliosis and lumbar spine degenerative changes.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for cause of death due to a need for additional evidence and an adequate medical examination.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot disabilities, collectively warranted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from July 7, 2022 to October 9, 2023.
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