The Veteran's disability rating for scleroderma with polyarthralgia and Raynaud's phenomenon was reduced from 60% to 40%, but the Board has restored the original 60% rating due to severe exacerbations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had severely incapacitating exacerbations occurring 4 or more times a year, warranting a higher disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Scleroderma, Polyarthralgia, Raynaud's phenomenon
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- August 30, 2022
- Citation
- 22049197
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 22049197.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus, Raynaud's phenomenon, and right lung lower lobe granuloma are not rated higher than the current noncompensable ratings. The claim for migraines has been dismissed.,The Veteran's service-connected right lung lower lobe granuloma remains at a noncompensable rating. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome and left knee strain have been remanded.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, but the Veteran's other claims remain pending.
- Denied
The Veteran's death was caused by acute/chronic respiratory failure secondary to scleroderma, a condition not service-connected. The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence linking the disability to military service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for Parkinson's disease, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure. The claim for scleroderma was remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension, renal cyst, renal toxicity, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to the service-connected conditions. Scleroderma was denied.
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