The Veteran's hypertension is granted for the period prior to March 4, 2021. The reduction in rating from 20 percent to zero percent for right knee instability was improper and restored. Higher ratings are granted for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic and femoral nerves). An effective date of February 17, 2018, is granted for the grant of service connection for right ankle disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hypertension was found to be secondary to his service-connected back disability. The reduction in rating from 20 percent to zero percent for right knee instability was improper as there was no improvement in function under ordinary conditions of life and work. Higher ratings are granted for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic and femoral nerves) based on the Veteran's symptoms, which were found to be moderate. An effective date of February 17, 2018, is granted for the grant of service connection for right ankle disability as it was liberally construed as an increased rating claim for a pre-existing condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension, Right Leg Disability (including fibula stress fracture and stress-related change), Right Knee Instability, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy (femoral nerve), Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy (femoral nerve)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 6, 2024
- Citation
- A24053692
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 A24053692.
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 Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been rated and denied for increased ratings, with some conditions receiving specific disability ratings. The Veteran is granted a 60% rating for her total right knee replacement from September 4, 2015 onwards, but the other claims are denied.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
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