The Veteran's initial rating requests for a higher disability rating were denied. The left shoulder, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities are rated at the minimum of 10 percent each since February 22, 2016. Service connection was denied for right hip disorder, bilateral tendonitis, right knee disorder, and sleep apnea.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating based on the severity of the Veteran's conditions or service connection requests.
- Claimed conditions
- Left acromioclavicular joint separation with degenerative arthritis (left shoulder disability), Left carpal tunnel syndrome, Right carpal tunnel syndrome, Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (low back disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19162528
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,200 · Granted: 43% (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 19162528.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is considered to have originated during his active service and continues today. The Board has therefore granted service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for right carpal tunnel syndrome is denied as the award was granted in a separate claim filed after the initial increase rating appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an effective date of May 26, 2011 for a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.,The Veteran is also granted an effective date of May 26, 2011 for eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.
- Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates of December 7, 2020 for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities.
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