The Board denied a rating in excess of 60 percent for right lower extremity varicose veins and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity varicose veins prior to July 3, 2023.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show persistent edema or stasis pigmentation or eczema in the left leg, nor massive board-like edema or constant pain at rest in the right leg, which are required for higher ratings under DC 7121.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity varicose veins, left lower extremity varicose veins
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2025
- Citation
- 25005608
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and remanded several issues related to his lower extremity varicose veins, TDIU, and hearing loss.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for left and right lower extremity varicose veins, depression, OSA, and headaches, but denied service connection for left and right arm chronic venous insufficiency. The increased rating claim for headaches was dismissed.
- Partly granted
The Board granted the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of attorney fees based on a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but denied it for increased ratings for certain conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for right lower extremity varicose veins, finding that June 13, 2023 is the earliest possible effective date.
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