The claims were denied due to lack of evidence supporting increased disability ratings or an earlier effective date for SMC.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not provide objective findings that warranted higher disability ratings, nor was there sufficient evidence to support an earlier effective date for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.
- Claimed conditions
- Patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, Patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, Multiple sclerosis with neuritis, right lower extremity with tonic clonic movement, Multiple sclerosis with neuritis, left lower extremity with tonic clonic movement, Bilateral optic neuritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2015
- Citation
- 1519347
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 1519347.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from April 4, 2009, to July 9, 2015.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for revision of a March 1998 rating decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) that assigned an initial noncompensable rating for his right knee condition.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis or for TDIU.
- Granted
The Veteran's GERD is granted a rating of 30 percent, allergic rhinitis remains at 0 percent, and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is granted a rating of 30 percent.
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