The Board denied the Veteran's claims for separate ratings for neurologic abnormalities associated with his service-connected cervical and thoracic spine disabilities, finding that there are no neurological abnormalities associated with these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the bilateral upper extremity ulnar neuropathy is not related to the Veteran’s service-connected cervical spine condition, and the findings of reduced lower extremity muscle strength and absent reflexes in the knees and ankles noted during an October 2017 thoracolumbar spine examination are unrelated to his service-connected thoracic spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, reduced lower extremity muscle strength and absent reflexes in the knees and ankles
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20054843
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 20054843.
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
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted and have been remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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