The Veteran's claim for a sleep disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or functional impairment.,An increased 20 percent rating, but no higher, has been granted for the right shoulder/collarbone disability from November 12, 2010 to October 15, 2018. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating is denied after that date.,A 10 percent rating, but no higher, has been granted for the left thumb fracture from November 3, 2011 to October 15, 2018. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating is denied after that date.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for the right ankle is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for the left knee is denied.,An increased 20 percent rating, but no higher, has been granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine from March 4, 2011 to October 15, 2018. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating is denied after that date.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for sciatic radiculopathy in the right lower extremity is denied.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or functional impairment of sleep disorder.,The increase in severity of disability occurred on November 12, 2010 (prior to the claim of November 3, 2011).,Throughout the rating period from October 16, 2018 onward, there is no evidence of limitation of motion of the right thumb productive of a gap of more than 2 inches.,Throughout the rating period prior to October 16, 2018, there was moderate limitation of motion of the right ankle. From October 16, 2018 onward, there is no evidence of such limitation.,Throughout the rating period prior to October 16, 2018, there was no ankylosis or recurrent subluxation/lateral instability in the left knee. From October 16, 2018 onward, there is no evidence of these conditions.,Throughout the rating period from March 4, 2011 to October 15, 2018, there was limitation of forward flexion to 60 degrees. After that date, there is no evidence of such limitation.,The increase in severity of disability occurred on March 4, 2011 (prior to the claim of November 3, 2011).
- Claimed conditions
- sleep disorder, right shoulder / collarbone disability, left thumb / first metacarpal bone fracture, fractured right ankle, left knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, sciatic radiculopathy in the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20074000
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,812 · Granted: 30% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20074000.
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- Partly granted
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the July 2012 VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability, and a new addendum opinion is needed.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The appeal regarding the heart condition and sleep disorder is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss prior to August 24, 2015, warrants a 20 percent rating.
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