The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, a gastrointestinal disability, unspecified joint pain, rectal bleeding, unspecified tendonitis, right and left shoulder disabilities, migraine headaches, penile condition, and traumatic brain injury. The Board also denied an increased rating for the lumbosacral spine disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show current diagnoses of the claimed conditions or a link to service, and the VA examiner's opinions were found to be more probative.
- Claimed conditions
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Gastrointestinal Disability, Unspecified Joint Pain, Rectal Bleeding, Unspecified Tendonitis, Right Shoulder Disability, Left Shoulder Disability, Migraine Headaches, Penile Condition, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 9, 2024
- Citation
- A24064596
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70% rating for PTSD from November 25, 2015 to August 12, 2024 and a 40% rating for the right shoulder disability. It also granted 10% ratings for both feet and 20% ratings for knee patellofemoral pain syndromes.
- Granted
The Veteran's effective date for the award of a 100 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder moderate and TBI was granted as of October 22, 2019.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and increased evaluations for GERD, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and TBI.
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