The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the assignment of increased disability ratings would violate the 'amputation rule' and his combined disability rating for left lower extremity disabilities is at its maximum.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s combined disability rating for his left lower extremity disabilities totals 80 percent, which violates the amputation rule. Therefore, any further increase in ratings would be prohibited.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Lower Extremity Muscle Injury (XIV), Left Leg Muscle Injury (XI), Left Knee Patellofemoral Pain and Patellar Dislocation, Sciatic Radiculopathy of the Left Lower Extremity, Shrapnel Wound to the Left Lower Leg, Left Ankle Lateral Ligament Insufficiency, Left Knee Ligament Instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20002285
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.
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