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 assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19176785
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.
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- Remanded (sent back)
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