The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left leg GSW, left knee degenerative joint disease (left knee disability), and left ankle degenerative joint disease (left ankle disability) has been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating than 30 percent for the left leg GSW.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left leg GSW resulted in severe impairment, but his disability picture more nearly approximated the criteria required for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5312 and 5311. The Board found that he was already rated at the maximum benefit under those codes.
- Claimed conditions
- gunshot wound (GSW) of the left leg, left tibia with healed compound, comminuted fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 10, 2018
- Citation
- 1828639
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 1828639.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected gunshot wound, left knee degenerative joint disease, and left ankle degenerative joint disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal involves three issues: a claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gunshot wound to the left leg, a request for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability, and a dispute over the effective date for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee. The case is being remanded due to incomplete development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered additional development to obtain service medical records and other pertinent evidence, including from the appellant's military unit in Vietnam. The claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin disorders are also being remanded.
- 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.
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