The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, finding that his lumbar spine arthritis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA regulations. The right knee meniscal tear was also rated at 10 percent disabling since July 1999.
The deciding factor: The veteran’s lumbar spine arthritis did not result in forward flexion limited to 60 degrees or combined motion of the thoracolumbar spine of not greater than 120 degrees, which would warrant a higher rating. The right knee meniscal tear was rated at 10 percent since July 1999 based on limitation of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine, Meniscal Tear of the Right Knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 4, 2006
- Citation
- 0637489
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 0637489.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and chronic sinusitis. However, it granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's GERD was granted a 60 percent disability rating, and the June 15, 2020 VA Form 10182 for service connection claims was accepted as timely due to good cause shown.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for DDD with IVDS and spinal stenosis, granted a 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and denied increased ratings for meniscal tear of the right knee and right knee strain based on limitation of extension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered additional development to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected back disability, including retrospective opinions and clarification regarding medication effects. The case will be returned for further action.
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