The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for gouty arthritis of the elbows, knees, Achilles tendons, ankles, and great toes has been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's gouty arthritis does not present with constitutional manifestations, associated joint involvement, or severe impairment of health that would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5017. His symptoms are adequately addressed by his current ratings based on limitation of motion in the affected joints.
- Claimed conditions
- gouty arthritis, left elbow strain, bursitis, right elbow strain, bursitis, left knee gouty arthritis, right knee gouty arthritis, left Achilles tendonitis, gouty arthritis, right ankle gouty arthritis, left great toe gouty arthritis, right great toe gouty arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- September 21, 2015
- Citation
- 1540555
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 1540555.
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's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, generalized anxiety and major depressive disorder, DJD, and gouty arthritis, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of May 8, 2001. As a result, the Board has granted an earlier effective date for TDIU from that date.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, but remanded claims for gouty arthritis and a right knee disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a rating of 100 percent for gouty arthritis since April 8, 2008, and denied an initial rating in excess of 60 percent prior to that date.
- Granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include back pain associated with a right knee replacement and gout affecting multiple joints.
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