The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis is service-connected and warrants a 20 percent rating. The right knee disability, including instability, also meets the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation. However, arthritis of the right knee does not warrant an additional separate evaluation beyond the current 10 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis is service-connected and has been found to be proximately due to her service-connected right knee disability. The right knee disability, including instability, meets the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5299, which pertains to instability of the knee. Arthritis of the right knee is separately evaluated based on its severity and does not warrant an additional separate evaluation beyond the current 10 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 19, 2005
- Citation
- 0522804
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 0522804.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis because the VA examinations were inadequate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication of his claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and ensuring proper notice regarding a claim for TDIU.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective September 8, 2009. The Board also granted separate ratings of 10 percent for radiculopathy in both lower extremities from January 14, 2010.
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