The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA disability evaluation criteria.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show limitation of motion or other symptoms warranting a higher rating under the current criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar and thoracic spine; Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS), Right bicep strain, Left knee, arthritis with shin splints, Right knee, arthritis with shin splints, Left ankle tendonitis, Minimal osteoarthritis 1st carpometacarpal left hand (left hand)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21068680
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 21068680.
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).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to properly evaluate the current severity of her disabilities.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for asthma with COPD, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left and right knee disabilities, and left and right ankle disabilities. However, TDIU was granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with depression, and increased ratings of 20 percent for right and left ankle tendonitis. The hypertension and tinnitus claims were denied.
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