The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is rated at 10 percent, but no more. The lumbar strain and bilateral knee disorders are each rated at 10 percent.,PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to January 31, 2014, with the possibility of an increased rating from that date onwards.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5235. The lumbar strain and bilateral knee disorders each meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical facet arthropathy, Cystic acne, Left ankle sprains, Left knee disorder, Left varicocele, Linear scars, Lumbar strain, Nephrolithiasis with recurrent urethral stones, Posttraumatic headaches, PTSD (from January 31, 2014 onwards), PTSD (prior to January 31, 2014), Residuals of a right labral tear repair, Residuals of a right-hand fracture with numbness, Residuals of a TBI, Right ankle disability, Right inguinal hernia, Right knee disorder, Tinnitus, Varicocele and spermatocele of the right scrotum
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19123256
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,948 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19123256.
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 Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's initial claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a brain hemorrhage was denied. The reduction of the rating for service-connected lumbar spine disability from 40 percent to 20 percent effective April 8, 2015, and the reduction of the rating for service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) from 40 percent to 10 percent effective April 8, 2015, were granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
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