The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations are denied as there is no evidence showing that his service-connected conditions warrant a rating higher than 20 percent for each condition.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a finding of more than moderate functional impairment due to the veteran's degenerative disc disease, arthritis, and patellofemoral syndrome. The veteran has been assigned the maximum schedular evaluation for his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, degenerative arthritis of the right A/C joint, degenerative arthritis of the left A/C joint, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 15, 2001
- Citation
- 0116341
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 0116341.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 12, 2011 for his entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 12, 2011.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to their death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision to disenroll the Veteran from the PCAFC program was not supported by adequate and sufficient evidence, and thus remanded for further development and consideration.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, is granted as service connected. The lumbar spine disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.