The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin rash was denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability.,For the period prior to March 25, 2010, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 10 percent.,Since March 25, 2010, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 40 percent.,The initial increased rating of 20 percent prior to March 25, 2010, for left shoulder disability was granted.,Since March 25, 2010, the Veteran's left shoulder disability did not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 30 percent.,The initial increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD throughout the appeal period was granted.,The initial increased rating of 50 percent for tension headaches was granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that any of the conditions met the criteria for an increased rating beyond those assigned, with specific findings regarding the lumbar spine disability and left shoulder disability being provided in detail.
- Claimed conditions
- skin rash, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), tension headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19187857
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 17, 2022, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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