The Veteran's degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent effective June 30, 2003.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10 percent effective June 30, 2003.,The Veteran's DJD of the bilateral knees is rated at 20 percent each effective June 30, 2003.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has significant functional loss and pain in his lumbar spine that warrants a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5243.,There is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or associated neurological impairment to warrant a higher rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.,The Veteran's DJD of the bilateral knees results in significant limitation of function, but does not meet the criteria for more than moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the bilateral knees
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 7, 2009
- Citation
- 0912944
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 0912944.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed all service connection claims and rating determinations due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to a failure to provide adequate reasons or bases in the November 2024 decision as to whether the pre-decisional duty to assist had been satisfied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision denying eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is not supported by adequate reasoning and must be remanded to allow for a thorough review, including obtaining medical opinions on whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the PCAFC program.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities due to conflicting information in the VA-contracted examination report, which requires clarification on the current severity of the service-connected disabilities without considering diabetic neuropathy. The Veteran is not service-connected for diabetic neuropathy.
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