The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are currently evaluated at 20 percent each, while his residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right posterior thigh with right knee arthritis is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that these evaluations adequately reflect the severity of the disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 8521 and 8620, as his symptoms are primarily sensory in nature with no evidence of organic changes or trophic changes warranting a higher rating. The residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right posterior thigh with right knee arthritis is rated at 30 percent based on moderately severe injury to Muscle Group XIII.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Lower Extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Lower Extremity, Residuals of a Shell Fragment Wound to the Right Posterior Thigh, involving Muscle Group XIII with Right Knee Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 9, 2009
- Citation
- 0946594
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 0946594.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from March 29, 2012, to April 23, 2025. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.
- Granted
The Veteran is found to be eligible for enrollment in the PCAFC program due to his severe and complex medical conditions, which require personal care services.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is denied as there was no prior formal or informal claim submitted before July 2, 2016.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities, granted an earlier effective date of September 7, 2018 for the grant of service connection for hypertension, and granted initial ratings of 40 percent for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities. The TDIU claim was also granted.
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