The Veteran's claim for CRDP payments prior to September 1, 2014 was denied. The Board also found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and ordered the RO to send the Veteran a notification letter regarding an October 2017 audit indicating he was entitled to a retroactive compensation payment of $984.00 for the period from January 2017 to May 2017.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not meet the eligibility criteria for CRDP payments prior to September 1, 2014 as he was not rated at least 50% disabled by VA and thus not eligible under the program's requirements.
- Claimed conditions
- left upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, left hip strain, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right ankle tendonitis, left ankle tendonitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right varicose veins, left varicose veins, tinnitus, dermatitis, nondisplaced fracture right little finger phalanx, left hip strain with limitation of flexion, left hip strain with limitation of abduction/adduction/internal rotation, right shin splints, left shin splints, bilateral pes planus, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2020
- Citation
- A20015601
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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