11-17 178
11-17 178
| Board of Vet. App. | Jun 15, 2017Background
- Veteran served active duty 1981–2003; appealed VA RO rating decisions denying higher ratings for left wrist fracture residuals, right thumb fracture residuals, and left posterior thigh lipoma.
- Initially service-connected: left wrist and right thumb residuals (each 10%); left posterior thigh lipoma originally noncompensable, increased to 10% effective March 10, 2011.
- Multiple VA examinations (2008–2016) documented range-of-motion measures, pain on use, no ankylosis of wrist or thumb, and a small (approx. 2–4 cm) tender left posterior thigh lipoma; one lateral thigh cyst (removed in 2011) was found unrelated to the service-connected posterior lipoma.
- Procedural history: RO decisions (2009, 2015, 2017), Board remands (2013, 2014, 2016); Veteran withdrew request for Board hearing; RO granted TDIU in Jan 2017 (no longer on appeal).
- Board found VA satisfied notice and duty-to-assist; substantial compliance with remand directives.
Issues
| Issue | Veteran's Argument | VA/Secretary's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether left wrist residuals warrant >10% (ankylosis or higher rating) | Wrist pain and limited ROM justify higher rating | Exams show limited ROM but no ankylosis; 10% is highest under motion code used | Denied — no ankylosis; 10% remains highest applicable |
| Whether right thumb residuals warrant a compensable rating | Pain and limited use of thumb warrant compensable rating | Exams show no gap between thumb pad and fingers and no ankylosis; 0% appropriate | Denied — no gap or ankylosis; noncompensable stands |
| Whether left posterior thigh lipoma merits >10% (deep, nonlinear, ≥12 sq in, or functional impairment) | Pain with standing/walking and post-op issues support higher rating | Lipoma small (~2–4 cm), painful but not deep/nonlinear/large, no functional impairment from service-connected lesion | Granted 10% from 8/8/2008 to 3/10/2011 and 10% thereafter; no higher rating allowed |
| Whether any other benefits (e.g., SMC) are warranted given TDIU grant | (Veteran sought maximized benefits) | TDIU granted; no single 100% rating plus combined 60% to trigger SMC | No entitlement to SMC; other issues not reasonably raised |
Key Cases Cited
- AB v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 35 (1993) (claimant presumed to seek maximum benefit; less-than-maximum grant leaves claim in controversy)
- Scott v. McDonald, 789 F.3d 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (duty-to-assist and VA procedures principles)
- Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268 (1998) (requirement of substantial compliance with Board remand directives)
- Schafrath v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 589 (1991) (interpretation of examination reports and maximization of benefits)
- Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 49 (1990) (benefit-of-the-doubt rule in rating determinations)