The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for keratosis was granted. The left ankle disability received a 20% rating effective November 28, 2018. The claims for increased evaluations of the left and right knee disabilities were denied. The lumbar spine stenosis claim was remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's keratosis claim was reopened on new evidence submitted since the August 2002 denial. The left ankle disability received a higher rating based on recent examinations showing marked limitation of motion. The knee and lumbar spine stenosis claims were denied as there is no evidence of more than moderate limitation of motion or functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- keratosis, chipped bone of the left ankle, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, impairment of sphincter control associated with hemorrhoidectomy, lumbar spine stenosis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19183692
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,569 · Granted: 26% (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 19183692.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic skin dermatitis with keratosis, finding that his condition is related to exposure to various irritants and UV rays during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hips and right knee are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The VA is required to obtain the Veteran's SSA disability benefits records, provide supplemental opinions regarding the ameliorative effects of medication on his hip and knee disabilities, and correct any duty-to-assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right knee scar. The RO must attempt to obtain all available private treatment records from the Tennessee Orthopedic Clinic.
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