The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The appeal is limited to the current disability ratings.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a higher rating based on the severity of the service-connected conditions, as they are currently evaluated at 10 percent or less.
- 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 assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20008045
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 denied an increased rating for allergic rhinitis and remanded the claims for cervical spine, hip, thigh, and hip extension disorders for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent disability rating for right and left thigh impairments under DC 5253, effective May 16, 2023. The reduction in these ratings was not supported by evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee instability, left knee arthritis, right shoulder strain, and residual scars to the right shoulder, index finger, and long finger.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a left foot disability (other than callosities) and a right hip disability, as well as increased ratings for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral foot disability prior to July 6, 2020, lumbar spine disability, right knee instability prior to October 2, 2019, and left knee instability. However, it denied increased ratings for the bilateral foot disability since July 26, 2020, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee instability since October 2, 2019.
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