The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's hypogonadism with low testosterone is currently rated at zero percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at zero percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at zero percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right foot disability is currently rated at zero percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The symptoms associated with the Veteran’s PTSD have not caused the level of impairment required for a 50% or higher disability rating under Diagnostic Code 9411.,The symptoms associated with the Veteran’s low back disability have not caused the level of impairment required for a 20% or higher disability rating under Diagnostic Codes 5237 and 5243.,The symptoms associated with the Veteran’s left knee disability have not caused the level of impairment required for a 10% or higher disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The symptoms associated with the Veteran’s right knee disability have not caused the level of impairment required for a 10% or higher disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The symptoms associated with the Veteran’s hypogonadism with low testosterone have not caused the level of impairment required for any disability rating under Diagnostic Code 7915.,The symptoms associated with the Veteran’s left lower extremity radiculopathy have not caused the level of impairment required for any disability rating under Diagnostic Code 8720.,The symptoms associated with the Veteran’s right lower extremity radiculopathy have not caused the level of impairment required for any disability rating under Diagnostic Code 8720.,The symptoms associated with the Veteran’s right foot disability have not caused the level of impairment required for any disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5283.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Low Back Disability, Left Knee Disability, Right Knee Disability, Hypogonadism with Low Testosterone, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Right Foot Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20002988
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
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