The Board denied service connection for right thumb, left shoulder, right shoulder, and low back conditions, but granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prior to June 6, 2022.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's claimed conditions were related to service or aggravated by a service-connected condition. For PTSD, providing the benefit of the doubt, his symptoms more closely manifested in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to June 6, 2022.
- Claimed conditions
- right thumb condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, low back condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- October 24, 2024
- Citation
- A24068465
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.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal requests for service connection and increased ratings were denied due to untimeliness, as the appeals were not filed within one year of the respective rating decisions.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and other benefits, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional compensation.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder condition, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of a low back condition to obtain an adequate medical opinion, as the presumption of soundness has not been rebutted.
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