The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sarcoidosis of the skin with complaints of joint pain, bilateral heel spurs with arthritis of the tarsal bone, and hypertension were denied as there is no evidence showing that any condition requires constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs during the past 12-month period. The rating schedule does not provide a separate rating for pain.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes due to lack of evidence showing that any condition requires constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs during the past 12-month period, and the rating schedule does not provide a separate rating for pain.
- Claimed conditions
- Sarcoidosis of the skin with complaints of joint pain, Bilateral heel spurs with arthritis of the tarsal bone, Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 21, 2011
- Citation
- 1102630
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 1102630.
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.
- 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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