The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee and lumbosacral spine disabilities do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, as there is no evidence of instability or ankylosis. The veteran's symptoms are adequately addressed by the current 10 percent ratings.
The deciding factor: The veteran's left knee strain with degenerative changes and lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes due to lack of evidence of instability or ankylosis, which are necessary for separate evaluations based on instability (Diagnostic Code 5257).
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Strain with Degenerative Changes, Lumbosacral Strain with Degenerative Changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2008
- Citation
- 0817072
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0817072.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes. The case is now being returned to the RO for further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities have been denied. The RO has granted service connection, but not the requested increased ratings or earlier effective dates.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for multiple sclerosis, residuals of right knee injury, bronchitis (claimed as a residual of tobacco use), postoperative bilateral inguinal hernias, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left femur disability warrants a 20 percent rating, and his lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes warrants a 20 percent rating. The decision is based on the current clinical findings and medical evidence.
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