The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, bilateral shin splints, and bilateral lower extremity varicose veins were denied. The Veteran was granted an increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD but the effective date prior to March 31, 2017 for PTSD service connection was denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for secondary service connection as there was no current varicose vein disability and no service-connected foot or shin condition. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms were found to be more approximate a higher 70 percent rating due to suicidal ideations, panic attacks, depression, anger outbursts, difficulty maintaining conversations, chronic sleep problems, lack of friends, and strained relationship with children.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral foot disability, Bilateral shin splints, Bilateral lower extremity varicose veins
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- August 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19165521
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (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 19165521.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
New and relevant evidence has been received, including medical opinions from Dr. D.W. regarding the acquired psychiatric disorder and from Dr. G.S. regarding the bilateral foot disability and hypertension. The AOJ will readjudicate these claims.,The AOJ will also readjudicate the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability based on new evidence submitted by the Claimant.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral foot disability due to burn pit exposure.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed because the July 3, 2024, Rating Decision only proposed to combine ratings for bilateral shin splints and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran did not properly identify issues he was appealing.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates prior to September 27, 2021 for service connection of bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claim for bilateral lower extremity varicose veins also received a favorable decision with an effective date set at September 22, 2015.
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