The Veteran's initial claim for a disability rating of 60 percent for systemic lupus erythematosus and discoid lupus erythematosus prior to January 31, 2014 was granted. For the entire appeal period, his service-connected lupus symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms were found to affect more than 40 percent of exposed areas throughout the appeal period, warranting a 60 percent disability rating prior to January 31, 2014. For the entire appeal period, his symptoms did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- April 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19127123
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,604 · Granted: 65% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19127123.
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 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus was pre-existing and worsened during service, thus meeting the criteria for service connection.
- Denied
The Veteran's disability rating for systemic lupus erythematosus was reduced from 100% to noncompensable effective February 1, 2021. The Board found that the reduction was proper and denied restoration of the 100% rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder. The claims for discoid lupus, malabsorption disorder, Sjogren's syndrome, and low back disability are remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied an increased rating for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and has found the Veteran's right hand arthritis claim to be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The decision on the right hand arthritis claim will need to be reconsidered after obtaining necessary medical opinions.
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