The veteran's left and right knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings, and service connection for low back pain was denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show ankylosis or severe subluxation or instability of the knees, nor is there sufficient evidence to support a finding of secondary service connection for the low back pain.
- Claimed conditions
- Left knee injury with traumatic arthritis, Right knee degenerative joint disease, Low back pain (claimed secondary to left knee)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2008
- Citation
- 0814745
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 granted increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right ankle disabilities but remanded the claims for other joint conditions due to insufficient evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for left knee post-prosthetic total replacement on or after December 16, 2024, as the maximum schedular evaluation of 60 percent was already assigned.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a compensable disability rating for hypertension, an increased rating for PTSD with adjustment disorder and depressed mood, an increased rating for tinnitus, and increased ratings for left knee status post meniscectomy with arthritis and right knee degenerative joint disease.
- Partly granted
The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee degenerative joint disease prior to May 13, 2021, but granted a rating of 30 percent for both knees as of that date due to instability.
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