The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back disability, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, postural tremor of the left hand, postural tremor of the right upper extremity, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bipolar disorder, are being granted increased ratings. The Veteran is also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports the need for increased ratings given the current functional impairment and symptoms of each condition.
- Claimed conditions
- back disability, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, postural tremor, left hand, postural tremor, right upper extremity, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bipolar disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20074316
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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 issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as the appellant does not have a documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s).
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for an initial compensable disability rating for right inguinal hernia surgery and service connection for a low back disability, as well as remanded the claims for service connection for GERD and entitlement to an increased rating for hypertension.
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