The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various shoulder, back, and foot disabilities have been denied. The Board found no current right elbow disability, and the right and left shoulder disabilities do not meet criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Code 5201. For the lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, the evidence did not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes as required for higher ratings. The abdominal scar has not been manifested by disabling effects.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have a current right elbow disability, and his shoulder and back disabilities do not meet criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Code 5201 due to lack of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side. The lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities did not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes as required for higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Elbow Disorder, Right Shoulder Tendonitis, Left Shoulder Tendonitis, Chronic Lumbar Spine Strain, Chronic Cervical Spine Strain, Abdominal Surgical Scar (Post-Appendectomy), Left Foot/Toe Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 1, 2020
- Citation
- 20064117
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 20064117.
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).
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- Whole decision: Partly granted
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