The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for vascular insufficiency of his legs and feet, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to January 12, 1998, or from January 12, 1998, to February 4, 1999. The veteran's service-connected vascular insufficiency was rated as 20 percent disabling since January 1, 1971.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show persistent coldness or an ankle/brachial index of 0.5 or less in either lower extremity, which are required for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- vascular insufficiency
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 20, 2006
- Citation
- 0601705
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
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