The appellant is eligible for the direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the April 2020 rating decision.
The deciding factor: The Veteran validly appointed the appellant as his attorney and had a valid direct-pay fee agreement, meeting the requirements for fees based on the awards granted in April 2020.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbosacral strain, Right knee osteoarthritis (limitation of flexion), Right shoulder strain, Left knee instability, Left knee osteoarthritis (limitation of flexion), Left lower extremity radiculopathy, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Left hand sprain with index finger involvement, Left hand sprain with long finger involvement, Left hand sprain with thumb involvement, Right hand sprain with index finger involvement, Right hand sprain with long finger involvement, Right hand sprain with thumb involvement, Right knee instability, Hypertension (noncompensable), Left hand sprain with little finger involvement, Left hand sprain with ring finger involvement, Left knee osteoarthritis (limitation of extension), Right knee osteoarthritis (limitation of extension), Right hand sprain with little finger involvement, Right hand sprain with ring finger involvement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2024
- Citation
- A24073682
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to properly evaluate the current severity of her disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability but denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted an effective date of July 31, 2012, for TDIU and October 22, 2012, for service connection of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The appeal for higher ratings and effective dates for various conditions was denied, with the exception of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were granted an earlier effective date.
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.