The Veteran's difficulty swallowing disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of in excess of 30 percent is not warranted based on the evidence provided.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's difficulty swallowing does not more nearly approximate a severe stricture permitting only the passage of liquids as required for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Difficulty Swallowing
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2023
- Citation
- 23063818
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 23063818.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's xerostomia with difficulty swallowing and difficulty speaking is now rated at 10 percent, effective as of the date of this decision. The claim for a separate rating for dental or oral conditions due to xerostomia was denied.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for difficulty swallowing, stooped posture on the right and left sides, constipation, sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction), and loss of use of a creative organ. However, it denied higher ratings for these conditions as well as increased ratings for nerve impairments.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's Myasthenia Gravis, right and left lower extremity weakness, and diplopia with ptosis are all rated at their maximum levels. The Veteran is granted a TDIU.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected difficulty swallowing was rated at 30 percent effective January 5, 2012. The condition is characterized by episodes of gagging requiring a self-Heimlich maneuver and associated throat pain.
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