The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 40 percent disability rating for gouty arthritis of the knees, effective March 11, 1998. Prior to this date, his condition did not meet criteria warranting an increased rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the veteran experienced at least three incapacitating exacerbations of gout in a year on and after March 11, 1998, which meets the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation under DC 5017. However, prior to this date, there was no sufficient documentation of more than two exacerbations per year.
- Claimed conditions
- gouty arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 12, 2001
- Citation
- 0107215
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0107215.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, but remanded claims for gouty arthritis and a right knee disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a rating of 100 percent for gouty arthritis since April 8, 2008, and denied an initial rating in excess of 60 percent prior to that date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand several claims related to the Veteran's gouty arthritis of the knees, including increased ratings and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance. The reasons include obtaining retrospective medical opinions, addressing deficiencies in previous examinations, and reviewing SSA records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is requesting a revision of the March 28, 2008 rating decision that assigned a noncompensable rating for gouty arthritis due to clear and unmistakable error. The RO has not addressed this issue yet.
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