The Veteran's cervical spine disability resulted in moderate incomplete paralysis of the right upper radicular group and severe incomplete paralysis of the right upper radicular group from April 7, 2015. The left upper radicular group also experienced moderate incomplete paralysis during this period. For the entire appeal period, his right knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis was rated at 40 percent, while his left knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis was rated at 30 percent. His left eye corneal scar with single dot retinal hemorrhage superimposed on refractive error with presbyopia received a separate 10 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine disability resulted in moderate to severe incomplete paralysis of the right upper radicular group and left upper radicular group, warranting ratings of 40% and 30%, respectively. The right knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis was rated at 40 percent due to its severity, while the left knee condition received a separate rating of 30 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Spine Strain with Arthritis, Right Upper Radicular Group Paralysis, Left Upper Radicular Group Paralysis, Patellofemoral Syndrome with Degenerative Changes of the Right Knee, Patellofemoral Syndrome with Degenerative Changes of the Left Knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 7, 2017
- Citation
- 1756454
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 1756454.
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.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The veteran's dysthymic disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to his symptoms and functioning.,The veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is appropriate given the limitation of motion. The next higher rating of 40 percent requires more severe limitations.,The veteran's lumbar spine disability is also currently rated at 20 percent, with no evidence supporting a higher rating due to his symptoms and functioning.,Both knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, which the Board finds appropriate given the veteran's limited range of motion and pain. The next higher ratings require more severe limitations or additional functional loss.,The veteran does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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