The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for higher ratings for various spine and shoulder conditions, opting to have them reviewed under the modernized review system.
The deciding factor: The Veteran opted into the modernized review system by filing a VA Form 20-0996 in response to the August 2021 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine status post lumbar laminectomy (back disability), degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, limitation of pronation of the left elbow, limitation of flexion of the left elbow
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 14, 2021
- Citation
- 21074291
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 21074291.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and rating reductions due to issues with the propriety of reducing disability ratings, as well as the need to obtain additional medical records. The Veteran is also being asked to provide authorization or submit any outstanding private treatment records.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for his shoulder and lumbar spine conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including various musculoskeletal conditions and mental health disorders.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee and left elbow disabilities, finding that the current 10 percent ratings adequately compensate the Veteran for his functional limitations.
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