The Veteran's left knee condition is currently rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The combined disability of the right and left shoulders warrants a 10 percent rating as separate disabilities are not more than zero percent.,Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) does not warrant an initial compensable rating. Hypertension also does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left knee condition has been shown to be manifested by subjective complaints of pain and limited function, but no objective evidence of limitation of motion or associated pain and elements of functional loss, anklyosis, lateral instability, recurrent subluxation, or dislocation or removal of semilunar cartilage. The combined disability of the right and left shoulders has been shown to be manifested by X-ray evidence of arthritic involvement of two major joints without a showing of incapacitating episodes; ankylosis, limitation of motion, pain, elements of functional loss, dislocation, or impairment of the humerus, clavicle, or scapula is not shown.,Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has required use of medication to control pertinent symptoms but there is no showing of persistently recurrent epigastric distress, dysphagia, pyrosis, regurgitation, substernal or arm or shoulder pain, a resulting considerable impairment of health, or symptoms indicative of any increased level of severity. Hypertension necessitated use of anti-hypertensive medication but a history of a diastolic blood pressure of predominantly 100 or more is not demonstrated; there is no showing of a systolic blood pressure of predominantly 160 or more.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Knee, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Right Shoulder, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Shoulder, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 6, 2010
- Citation
- 1000679
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 1000679.
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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