The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for insomnia disorder, cervical strain, and left shoulder strain. The reduction of the right shoulder strain rating from 30% to 20% was deemed proper.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Insomnia disorder (claimed as sleep disturbances and stress), Cervical strain, Left shoulder strain, Right shoulder strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25033841
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 PTSD and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder strain.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities alone were of such nature and severity to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a mood disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for cervical strain from October 1, 2024, and denied compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss, scars on both knees, upper extremity radiculopathies, and service connection for wrist disorders.
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