The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability and a 10 percent rating for bilateral shin splints, while denying increased ratings for other disabilities.

The deciding factor: The evidence showed limited forward flexion of the low back to 25 degrees during the appeal period, warranting a higher initial rating. For the right shoulder, there was no loss of motion due to pain or flare-ups, and thus a higher rating was not warranted.

Claimed conditions

right shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral shin splints, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral pes planus, with degenerative arthritis, and gout

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

December 17, 2025

Citation

A25108895

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine