The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on multiple conditions, including right knee degenerative arthritis, instability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), were denied. The issues of PTSD and alcohol abuse, episodic, as well as cervical spine spondylosis and degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine, are remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's conditions more nearly approximated the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the right knee, Right knee instability, Symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage (meniscectomy), Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol abuse, episodic, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Cervical spine spondylosis, Degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19187103
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability but denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matters for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting VA examinations.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claims for an initial compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, and a left eye disorder. However, it granted service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the back disability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, arthritis of the cervical spine, cervical radiculopathy of the left arm, back disability, left elbow condition, left shoulder condition, left wrist condition, left hand condition, hypertension, and an initial rating of 10 percent for coronary arteriosclerosis prior to September 24, 2024.
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