The appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, L3-4 through L5-S1 is dismissed as moot. The application to readjudicate the claim for entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability remains denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.
The deciding factor: The Board found that no new and relevant evidence had been submitted to establish a causal link between the Veteran's service and his claimed conditions, thus denying the claims.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, L3-4 through L5-S1, Rotator cuff tendonitis of the left shoulder (left shoulder disability)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 21, 2025
- Citation
- A25026597
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a retrospective medical opinion to assess the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral hip disabilities to obtain an adequate medical opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 for diabetes mellitus, Type 2 with bilateral lower extremity neuropathy secondary to medications taken for high cholesterol was denied due to the lack of new and relevant evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, plantar fasciitis with degenerative joint disease in both feet, and hypertension.
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