The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied across multiple conditions, with the exception of a 30 percent rating for GERD granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not warrant an earlier effective date or higher ratings for most conditions due to lack of documentation supporting such claims.
- Claimed conditions
- left hip degenerative joint disease, right hip degenerative joint disease, impaired motion of the left hip, limitation of extension of the left hip, limitation of extension of the right hip, left knee degenerative joint disease, instability of the left knee, instability of the right knee, hallux valgus left foot (also rated as hallux rigidus), left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (femoral nerve), right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (femoral nerve), left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23012355
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 23012355.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability, including without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including SMC based on loss of use of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as rating increases for various neuropathies. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions have manifested with the loss of use of his hands, legs, and feet.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection, including chronic right foot metatarsalgia at digit 3,4,5, left shoulder bicep tendonitis, right hip degenerative joint disease, hypertension, right shoulder bicep tendonitis, headaches, left hip degenerative joint disease, and atrial fibrillation with residual non ischemic cardiomyopathy.
- Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability was not shown to be related to service or any service-connected conditions, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.