The appeal was denied because the Veteran and his attorney did not have a direct pay fee agreement covering the issues of increased ratings for diabetes, gout, or GERD, or SMC.
The deciding factor: The appellant may not charge fees for representation provided as to those issues due to the lack of a valid direct pay fee agreement and because the April 2022 rating decision was an initial decision on these issues.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2024
- Citation
- A24073122
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
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.