The Veteran's appeal for an effective date earlier than June 7, 2016 for the assignment of service connection for a back disability has been dismissed.,An initial disability rating of 40 percent, but no more, effective June 7, 2016 for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is granted.,An initial disability rating of 40 percent, but no more, effective June 7, 2016 for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is granted.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability has been dismissed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not meet criteria for increased ratings due to lack of ankylosis, incapacitating episodes requiring physician prescribed bedrest, or flexion of 30 degrees or less.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy was evaluated as moderately-severe in both lower extremities and granted a disability rating of 40 percent effective June 7, 2016.,The Veteran did not meet criteria for increased ratings due to lack of ankylosis, incapacitating episodes requiring physician prescribed bedrest, or flexion of 30 degrees or less.,The Veteran's right knee disability did not manifest ankylosis, recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, a tibial or fibular impairment, genu recurvatum, a flexion of 30 degrees or less, an extension of 15 degrees or more, or a flexion of 45 degrees or less and an extension of 10 degrees or more.
- Claimed conditions
- Back disability, Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, Right knee disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 19, 2024
- Citation
- A24019920
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 A24019920.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back disability due to incomplete service records and failure to consider all available evidence, including in-service treatment records from F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim for bilateral knee disabilities and his right and left knee scars have been granted. He is now rated at a combined 60% disability rating from June 1, 2018 based on bilateral factors for his bilateral knee disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's rating for residuals status post lumbar fusion was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent effective October 25, 2023. The reduction was granted as there was no evidence of actual improvement in the Veteran's condition prior to this date.
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