The Veteran's lupus was rated at 30 percent prior to December 10, 2004 and at 60 percent since then. The adjustment disorder with depressed mood and fatigue warranted a 30 percent rating. The avascular necrosis of the right femoral head with acetabular degenerative joint disease warranted a 30 percent rating. The pes planus with toe numbness warranted a 10 percent rating, and hypertension was rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lupus has been consistently rated as 60 percent since December 10, 2004 due to the need for constant or near-constant systemic immunosuppressive therapy. The adjustment disorder with depressed mood and fatigue warranted a 30 percent rating based on its manifestations of difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The avascular necrosis of the right femoral head with acetabular degenerative joint disease was rated at 30 percent due to marked hip disability. The pes planus with toe numbness was rated at 10 percent as it only occasionally manifested swelling on use, characteristic callosities, or accentuated pain on use.
- Claimed conditions
- Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus), Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood and Fatigue, Avascular Necrosis of the Right Femoral Head with Acetabular Degenerative Joint Disease, Pes Planus with Toe Numbness, Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- October 15, 2009
- Citation
- 0939008
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 0939008.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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