The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left shoulder disabilities due to the Veteran's refusal to attend VA examinations. The claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral foot conditions, and bronchitis were remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record does not support the claims of entitlement to service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left shoulder disabilities due to the Veteran's refusal to attend VA examinations. For the claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral foot conditions, and bronchit
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability (to include lumbago), cervical spine disability (degenerative disc disease, cervical spondylosis, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)), left shoulder disorder, bilateral foot conditions (hallux valgus with calcaneal spurs, right fifth metatarsal degenerative arthritis, left posterior tibial tendonitis), bronchitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 6, 2025
- Citation
- 25006144
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a head injury, headache disorder, erectile dysfunction, left earache disorder, chronic fatigue, right shoulder disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, right foot disorder, GERD, and left shoulder disorder, as the evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bronchitis, COPD, asthma, and plantar fasciitis as not being related to the Veteran's military service. The Board also denied an increased rating for painful malunion of the left clavicle, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and rating issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for bronchitis, COPD, asthma, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for OSA, and an increased rating higher than 20 percent for painful malunion of the left clavicle.
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