The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The decision did not address service connection or exposure basis.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for bladder dysfunction prior to August 31, 2012, or for a rating in excess of 20 percent for bladder dysfunction prior to December 9, 2013. Ratings in excess of 20 percent for weakness of bilateral upper extremities were not warranted prior to April 15, 2009, and February 25, 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- Bladder Dysfunction, Weakness of Bilateral Upper Extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19130052
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,162 · Granted: 21% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19130052.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of various service-connected conditions, except CFS, BPPV, and GERD, were denied. The effective dates for the awards of service connection are not earlier than January 26, 2016.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 20% rating for bladder dysfunction, finding that the reduction from 20% to 0% was not proper and void ab initio.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including depression and other conditions. The effective date of this decision is August 28, 2023.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether bladder dysfunction, including urinary incontinence, is related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The AOJ must obtain an adequate opinion on this issue.
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