The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of both lower extremities as defined by VA regulations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have functional impairment such that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by amputation with prosthesis, and he is not shown to have extremely unfavorable ankylosis of the knee or complete paralysis of the external popliteal (common peroneal) nerve.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder, fatigue and malaise, Crohn's disease, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar degenerative disease with ankylosing spondylitis, migraine headaches with nausea, cervical degenerative disease, degenerative joint disease, right elbow, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, rheumatoid arthritis (rads), radiculopathy, left and right lower extremity, left and right knee degenerative joint disease, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, degenerative joint disease left elbow, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative joint disease right and left wrist, right hip degenerative joint disease, degenerative joint disease, right and left ankle, post-surgical abdominal scars, scars, both shoulders, thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, both hips and right knee associated with right shoulder degenerative joint disease, status post right shoulder replacement, rectal fistula, hypertension, vitamin D deficiency, skin rash, unspecified hand tremors, right shoulder joint gram negative bacterial infection in remission
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 24, 2018
- Citation
- 18105578
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 18105578.
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
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- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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