The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease, T12-S1, was denied an increased evaluation. His service-connected right knee and left knee disabilities were granted increased evaluations of 40% and 10%, respectively. The veteran's history of asthma was granted a 30% evaluation.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of severe intervertebral disc syndrome in the veteran's back, which precluded a higher rating under the revised criteria for IDS. For his knees, the VA examiner noted full range of motion with little pain and no findings of current ankylosis, recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, locking episodes, effusion, or other potentially relevant symptomatology.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (T12-S1), Degenerative joint disease (right knee), Degenerative joint disease (left knee), History of asthma, obstructive lung defect on pulmonary function test
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 27, 2003
- Citation
- 0305814
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 0305814.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Granted
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- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of his left foot, as there was no evidence showing that the service-connected conditions resulted in functional limitation equal to that of amputation of the left foot with prosthesis.
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