The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine arthritis, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left knee disability, and left elbow carpal tunnel syndrome with ulnar nerve involvement have been denied. The VA has determined that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the current 20 percent ratings under the appropriate diagnostic codes adequately reflected the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine arthritis, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left knee disability, and left elbow carpal tunnel syndrome with ulnar nerve involvement.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine, Degenerative labral tear and chondromalacia with bursitis of the right shoulder, Left knee status post meniscectomy, Left elbow disability of carpal tunnel syndrome, status post ulnar nerve surgery and surgical decompression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19176785
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,200 · Granted: 43% (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 19176785.
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 entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from June 19, 2016 to October 27, 2019.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The cervical spine disability was rated at 30 percent, the left upper extremity radiculopathy at 20 percent, the lumbar spine disability with IVDS at 20 percent, and the right lower extremity radiculopathy from June 3, 2022, at 20 percent. The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted earlier.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the upper extremities are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error and need for additional medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for cervical spine disability prior to March 17, 2022 was denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (OSTSD) was granted. The remaining issues were remanded.
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