The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and TBI, and remanded service connection claims for right hand and knee disabilities as well as higher rating claims for a left shoulder and lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating due to insufficient severity of symptoms or functional impairment, and an addendum opinion was needed for the service connection claims.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, Traumatic brain injury (TBI), Right hand disability, Right knee disability, Left shoulder disability, Lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 10, 2023
- Citation
- 23001650
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic headaches, CFS, dermatosis, bilateral RLS, a lumbar spine disability, and sleep apnea but denied a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for right and left shoulder disabilities, as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his PTSD is related to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST) during a period of ACDUTRA.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
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