The Board denied increased ratings for multiple service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, left and right ankle sprains with degenerative arthritis, left and right knee retropatellar pain syndromes with degenerative arthritis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae with acne keloidalis nuchae.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities manifested to a degree sufficient to warrant higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, left ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis, right ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, pseudofolliculitis barbae with acne keloidalis nuchae
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25022995
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 service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right leg sciatica with radiculopathy pain and paresthesia, but denied increased ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left wrist limitation of motion with ganglion cyst, and service connection for headaches, unspecified. Several issues were remanded.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a disability rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus and a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, but granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.
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