The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including back, shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle issues.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's back, shoulder, elbow, knee, or ankle conditions manifested with the necessary criteria to warrant higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with spondylosis and spondylolisthesis at L5-S1, Left shoulder strain, Right elbow epicondylitis, Left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, Right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, Right ankle strain, Left ankle degenerative changes, residual of left fibula fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 18, 2025
- Citation
- 25005310
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 earlier effective dates of November 5, 2021, for the grants of service connection and eligibility for DEA benefits.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder strain.
- Partly granted
The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome but granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability. The claim for service connection for a back disorder was remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied higher disability ratings for the veteran's low back and lower extremity radiculopathies, pseudofolliculitis barbae, pes planus and plantar fasciitis, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.
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