The Veteran's gouty arthritis, hiatal hernia with esophageal reflux, and chronic low back strain with mild degenerative changes are all rated at the maximum allowable under their respective diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of gouty arthritis have been productive of definite impairment of health during flare-ups, warranting a 40% rating.
- Claimed conditions
- gouty arthritis, hiatal hernia with esophageal reflux, chronic low back strain with mild degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 29, 2017
- Citation
- 1754436
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 1754436.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand several claims related to the Veteran's gouty arthritis of the knees, including increased ratings and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance. The reasons include obtaining retrospective medical opinions, addressing deficiencies in previous examinations, and reviewing SSA records.
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