The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, varicose veins of the left leg, and right knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the medical evidence showing only slight limitation of motion in the left knee and no additional limitations after repetitive use. The varicose veins showed persistent edema prior to May 4, 2005, but from then onward there was no clinical evidence of stasis pigmentation or eczema.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee instability, status post arthroplasty, varicose veins of the left leg, degenerative disease of the right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 3, 2009
- Citation
- 0907694
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral knee instability and denied service connection for right and left knee instability, finding no nexus between the Veteran's knee conditions and his service or service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and bilateral knee disorders due to the need for additional VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied restoration of the 30 percent ratings for left knee arthritis (flexion), left knee strain arthritis (extension), and left knee instability, as well as a 20 percent rating for left ankle chronic sprain. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right knee gout and a rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's right wrist condition, while remanding several other issues related to his knees and instability.
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