The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The rating reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for right thigh impairment was upheld.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the need for a higher disability rating based on the severity of the Veteran’s service-connected conditions, including his knee and hip disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Right knee arthritis due to strain, Right hip degenerative joint disease with limitation of extension, Right thigh impairment, Left knee arthritis, Right ankle sprain residuals, Bilateral foot injury residuals, Hammertoes of the right foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20008045
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,017 · Granted: 36% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20008045.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted, including back disability, tinea pedis and tinea unguium, right foot degenerative changes, left hip disability, left knee arthritis, and psychiatric disabilities. The Board also found that the bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is secondary to his back disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis. The claims for PTSD and radiculopathy are remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability and left knee arthritis due to insufficient reasoning in previous decisions, including a lack of adequate examination regarding the nature and etiology of his right knee disability. The Court also found that there was an issue with missing service treatment records.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for service-connected right thigh impairment, limitation of flexion, and limitation of extension due to untimely filing.
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