The Veteran's claim for service connection for corneal degeneration in the left eye was denied. The claims for higher initial ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, chronic cervical spine strain, and left knee patellar tendonitis were granted with a 20% rating effective from December 14, 2014. The claim for service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy and PTSD was remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of corneal degeneration in the left eye. For the initial rating period on appeal, the left shoulder disability met the criteria for a 20% rating under Diagnostic Code 5201. The cervical strain met the criteria for a 20% rating under Diagnostic Code 5237. The left knee patellar tendonitis did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.
- Claimed conditions
- corneal degeneration in the left eye, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, chronic cervical spine strain, left knee patellar tendonitis, left upper extremity neuropathy, posttraumatic stress disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19131815
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within a reasonable time thereafter, and that they were not caused by toxic exposure or any other in-service event.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions and a TDIU, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these disabilities were related to the Veteran's military service.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a temporary total evaluation because of hospital treatment in excess of 21 days for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder was withdrawn by the Veteran's representative and is therefore dismissed.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for various conditions were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
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