The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a higher rating prior to July 30, 2014, and his current combined disability rating does not meet the threshold requirement for TDIU consideration.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease (mild patellofemoral), scar of the left Achilles tendon area, scar of the left iliac crest, and right knee osteoarthritis with limited flexion do not meet the schedular criteria for a higher rating prior to July 30, 2014. The combined disability rating does not meet the threshold requirement for TDIU consideration.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Pes Planus, Right Knee Osteoarthritis, Left Knee Degenerative Joint Disease (mild patellofemoral), Scar of the Left Achilles Tendon Area, Scar of the Left Iliac Crest, Right Knee Osteoarthritis with Limited Flexion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20070191
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 service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and an earlier effective date of May 14, 2018, for radiculopathy right lower extremity. Other claims were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including PTSD, IBS, cardiac arrhythmia, CFS, chronic headaches, chronic sinusitis, dyspnea, and fibromyalgia. The claim for bilateral pes planus was remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction, but granted an increased rating of 40 percent for a low back disability (intervertebral disc syndrome) and 20 percent for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing was denied as he does not meet the criteria due to his ability to independently ambulate with the use of braces.
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