The Veteran's entitlement to higher disability ratings for residuals of ischemic stroke, specifically left lower extremity and left upper extremity paralysis, is granted starting from June 23, 2020. The initial rating was 100 percent until December 2020, then reduced to 10 percent. Higher initial ratings are now granted for the left upper and lower extremities under DCs 8514 and 8520 respectively.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows severe symptoms in the left arm and leg that do not clearly indicate peripheral nerve damage from diabetes, but rather brain damage from stroke. The VA examiners characterized the Veteran's symptoms as moderate to severe, with no muscle atrophy noted, leading to a determination of higher initial ratings under DCs 8514 and 8520.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic stroke, Left lower extremity paralysis, Left upper extremity paralysis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- February 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26018018
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 A26018018.
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 service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, ischemic stroke, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), and atrophoderma disorder as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service. A psychiatric disorder was remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's SMC at the statutory housebound rate is denied as his entitlement to a higher level of SMC has not been met.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for right and left lower extremity paralysis due to heart surgery, as the October 2021 VA etiology opinion is not sufficient. The Veteran needs new opinions from a medical professional regarding carelessness, negligence, or similar instances of fault during the June 2021 atrial fibrillation ablation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hernia, mitral valve replacement, ischemic stroke, and hypertension due to service connection issues. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, with some contending they are related to his PTSD.
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