The Veteran's appeals for service connection for meralgia paresthesias, gout, and residuals of right ankle sprain were dismissed. The claim for service connection for a right ankle disability was remanded. Appeals for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left leg radiculopathy, and left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis and degenerative joint disease remain in appellate status.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeals for meralgia paresthesias and gout. The claim for residuals of right ankle sprain was reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- meralgia paresthesias, gout, residuals of right ankle sprain, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left leg radiculopathy, left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis and degenerative joint disease, right ankle disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19104728
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and earlier effective dates as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current conditions and his active military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, back disability, and other conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's military service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions of the left and right hands, shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, ankles, and foot, but granted service connection for a right knee disability and fibromyalgia. The decision was based on medical evidence that did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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