The Veteran's cervical spine disability was denied an initial rating higher than 20 percent prior to June 10, 2021 and a rating higher than 30 percent from that date.,The Veteran's thoracic spine disability was denied an initial rating higher than 20 percent prior to June 10, 2021 and a rating higher than 40 percent from that date.,The Veteran's right knee disability was denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent prior to June 10, 2021 and a rating higher than 30 percent from that date.,The Veteran's left knee disability was denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent prior to June 10, 2021 and a rating higher than 30 percent from that date.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for the next higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine degenerative arthritis, thoracic spine disability, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome (right knee disability), left knee retropatellar pain syndrome (left knee disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 14, 2021
- Citation
- 21074254
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 21074254.
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 has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis. The claims for back pain and right upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, thoracic strain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, left knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, left ankle ganglion cyst and ruptured saphenous vein, and left great toe matrixectomy with a left medial foot scar. The Board found that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development and consideration of the appellant's theory that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which contributed to his death.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for all claims of service connection, including those for bilateral flat feet, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right CTS, left CTS, essential tremors, right ankle arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, and left knee arthritis. The appeal of sleep apnea was granted in a July 2024 rating decision.
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