The Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current medical evidence.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board notes that unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine has not been established.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's shoulder and lumbar spine conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Degenerative Arthritis, Right Shoulder Degenerative Arthritis, Degenerative Arthritis of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 6, 2024
- Citation
- A24023236
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 A24023236.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the July 2019 rating decision.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathies of both lower extremities have been granted, with effective dates from December 3, 2020, to October 7, 2024.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus are granted service connection, while anxiety is denied. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome do not meet the criteria for service connection.,Service connection for left elbow tendinitis is remanded due to lack of evidence.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability and scar was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.
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