The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and granted a 20 percent rating for right femoral neuropathy. The claim for increased ratings for left knee residuals was also denied.
The deciding factor: The veteran's pre-existing low back condition did not increase in severity during service, and arthritis of the lumbar spine was not shown within one year post-service. Right femoral neuropathy is manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis, warranting a 20 percent rating. The residuals of left knee injury are currently rated as 10 percent due to painful motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Low Back Disorder, Right Femoral Neuropathy, Left Knee Disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 13, 2002
- Citation
- 0216280
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 0216280.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left hip disorders due to a pre-decisional error in obtaining an adequate nexus opinion prior to the June 2021 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders due to insufficient opinions regarding the onset and relationship to service.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating in excess of 70 percent for Persistent Depressive Disorder, the rating in excess of 50 percent for OSA, and the compensable rating for Migraine Headaches are all denied. Service connection for a Left Knee Disorder is also denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders due to inadequate VA medical opinions in previous decisions.
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.