The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran's symptoms, while present and impacting his daily life, did not reach the severity levels required for a higher disability rating based on the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or Diagnostic Code 5243 (for intervertebral disc syndrome).
- Claimed conditions
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder with Anxiety and Depressive Disorders, Lumbar Strain, Right Hand Ring and Little Finger Degenerative Joint Disease, Left Foot Plantar Fasciitis (since September 13, 2011), Left Foot Plantar Fasciitis (since May 19, 2016), Left Shoulder Tendonitis, Left Knee Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Left Ankle Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 12, 2017
- Citation
- 1745381
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 1745381.
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 generalized anxiety disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus are all granted service connection.,Service connection for GERD is also granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death was cardiopulmonary arrest due to aspiration, and they have found a duty to assist error in their initial decision. They are now requesting a medical opinion to determine if the service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a TDIU from October 12, 2016 to November 12, 2018 and from January 1, 2019 to July 22, 2019 due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus has been restored to a 30% evaluation effective September 1, 2020. The evaluations for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded.
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