The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The reduction in rating of coronary artery disease was not proper as there was no actual improvement in the disability.
The deciding factor: There was no actual improvement in the Veteran's coronary artery disease, which is required to justify a reduction in rating.
- Claimed conditions
- spinal stenosis, left calf claudication, diabetic nephropathy, gout of the left wrist and hand, gout of the left knee, gout of the left ankle and foot, gout of the left great toe
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 8, 2015
- Citation
- 1524206
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1524206.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic nephropathy, and prostate cancer. The issues of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on housebound status and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) are remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to clarify the dates of bilateral partial foot amputations and their relationship to service-connected diabetes. The AOJ will obtain pertinent private treatment records to determine these details.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica have been granted as they are related to his active duty service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, is causally related to service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.
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