The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,A 10 percent rating prior to July 15, 2015, for varicose veins of the left lower extremity is granted. The appeal for a higher rating after that date is denied.,The Veteran's varicose veins are rated at 10 percent from July 15, 2015, to November 22, 2019, and denied for a higher rating thereafter.,A 40 percent rating from November 22, 2019, is denied for varicose veins of the left lower extremity.,The Veteran's right lower extremity disability is rated at 10 percent prior to November 22, 2019, and denied for a higher rating thereafter.,A 40 percent rating from November 22, 2019, is denied for varicose veins of the right lower extremity.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show marked limited motion/limitation in the left ankle that would approximate a higher rating under DC 5271.,The Veteran's symptoms prior to July 15, 2015, do not meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating as she did not have persistent edema incompletely relieved by elevation of extremity.,From July 15, 2015, to November 22, 2019, the Veteran's varicose veins were manifested by beginning stasis pigmentation and intermittent edema, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7120.,After November 22, 2019, the Veteran's varicose veins are manifested by persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema, but do not meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating as there is no ulceration.,The right lower extremity disability was rated at 10 percent prior to November 22, 2019, and denied for a higher rating thereafter.,After November 22, 2019, the Veteran's varicose veins are manifested by persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema, but do not meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating as there is no ulceration.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic left ankle pains with residual fracture, Varicose veins of the left lower extremity, Varicose veins of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 19, 2022
- Citation
- 22015833
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 22015833.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable evaluations for right knee scars and residuals of right knee injury post-operative arthroscopy, extension have been dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has also been dismissed.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins of both lower extremities, finding no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active service or any service-connected disability.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins of the right and left lower extremities have been granted. The Board also dismissed the claim for a left shoulder disability, as it was withdrawn by the Veteran during his August 2022 hearing. The neck disability and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity secondary to the neck disability are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's request for a restoration of the 40 percent disability rating for his service-connected varicose veins of the left lower extremity is granted. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for this condition is remanded due to lack of proper procedural steps in reducing the rating.
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