The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or a grant of service connection.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's knee, thumb, and middle finger conditions were found to not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on functional impairment due to factors such as pain, weakness, fatigability, incoordination, pain on movement, flare-up, or repetitive use over time. For shortness of breath, there was no current diagnosis or evidence linking it to service.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear status post reconstruction with arthritis, left knee instability, left thumb sprain, right thumb sprain, left middle finger sprain, right middle finger sprain, shortness of breath
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25104505
Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.