The veteran's internal derangement of the left knee was rated at 20 percent from April 23, 1997, to June 30, 2003.,Osteoarthritis with limitation of motion of the left knee (status post surgery) was rated at 100 percent from August 4, 2000, to September 30, 2000; 20 percent from October 1, 2000, to June 5, 2001; and 30 percent since August 1, 2002.,Degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 was rated at 40 percent from September 11, 1998, to February 7, 2001; 60 percent from February 8, 2001, to January 31, 2002; and 40 percent since April 1, 2002.,Right L-5 radiculopathy affecting the right lower extremity was rated at 20 percent from September 23, 2002.,Service connection for trochanteric bursitis of the right hip (claimed as secondary to service-connected left knee disability) was granted.

The deciding factor: The veteran's internal derangement of the left knee was manifested by objective evidence of overall moderate impairment due to instability from April 23, 1997, to June 30, 2003.,Osteoarthritis with limitation of motion of the left knee (status post surgery) was manifested by objective evidence of osteoarthritis with limited range of motion and pain from November 20, 1997, through August 3, 2000; a 100 percent rating in recognition of convalescence for arthroscopic surgery of the left knee from August 4, 2000, to September 30, 2000; and primarily by complaints of pain, occasional right sciatica symptoms, significant limited motion, and likely additional functional loss due to pain since October 1, 2000.,Degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 was manifested by objective evidence of an asymmetric right disc protrusion at L5-S1, radiating pain from the lower back to the right lower extremity, overall evidence of severe pain, and likely additional functional loss due to pain since September 11, 1998, through January 31, 2002; a 60 percent rating based on surgery (spinal fusion at L4-S1, and laminectomy at L3-S1) and convalescence from February 1, 2002, to March 31, 2002; and primarily by complaints of pain, occasional right sciatica symptoms, significant limited motion, and likely additional functional loss due to pain since April 1, 2002.,Right L-5 radiculopathy affecting the right lower extremity was manifested by objective evidence of a 20 percent rating from September 23, 2002.,Service connection for trochanteric bursitis of the right hip (claimed as secondary to service-connected left knee disability) was granted.

Claimed conditions

internal derangement of the left knee, osteoarthritis with limitation of motion of the left knee (status post surgery), degenerative disc disease of L5-S1, right L-5 radiculopathy affecting right lower extremity, trochanteric bursitis of the right hip

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 22, 2004

Citation

0429049

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 0429049.