The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthropathy of the hands (claimed as rheumatoid arthritis) is granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claims for scars on his right upper and lower extremities and left lower extremity are granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot degenerative joint disease is granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot degenerative joint disease is granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease (status post rotator cuff and impingement surgery) is granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder degenerative joint disease (status post rotator cuff and impingement surgery) is granted.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of right carpal tunnel syndrome with median and lower radicular group involvement are remanded.

The deciding factor: The evidence does not establish an increase in severity of the Veteran's service-connected right and left foot degenerative joint disease, or his right and left shoulder disabilities in the year prior to October 16, 2013.,The effective date for the award of service connection for scars on the right upper and lower extremities is May 1, 2012, as this was the date upon which the Veteran filed his initial claim.,The effective date for the award of service connection for scars on the left lower extremity is May 1, 2012, as this was the date upon which the Veteran filed his initial claim.,There was no unadjudicated or informal claim pending prior to October 16, 2013, for increased evaluations of right foot degenerative joint disease and left foot degenerative joint disease. Therefore, an effective date prior to October 16, 2013, is not warranted.,There was no unadjudicated or informal claim pending prior to October 16, 2013, for increased evaluations of right shoulder degenerative joint disease and left shoulder degenerative joint disease. Therefore, an effective date prior to October 16, 2013, is not warranted.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of right carpal tunnel syndrome with median and lower radicular group involvement are remanded as there was no unadjudicated or informal claim pending prior to October 16, 2013.

Claimed conditions

arthropathy of the hands (claimed as rheumatoid arthritis), right foot degenerative joint disease, left foot degenerative joint disease, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, status post rotator cuff and impingement surgery, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, status post rotator cuff and impingement surgery, right carpal tunnel syndrome with median and lower radicular group involvement, left carpal tunnel syndrome with median and lower radicular group involvement

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

August 11, 2022

Citation

22045787

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 22045787.