The Veteran's right knee strain was granted a noncompensable rating from April 29, 2003 to December 12, 2008 and a compensable rating of 10 percent thereafter. The lumbar spine strain was granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent effective April 23, 2003.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right knee strain demonstrated painful motion with degenerative joint disease, warranting the lowest available noncompensable rating. His lumbar spine strain had characteristic pain on motion and muscle spasms, qualifying for a 20 percent disability rating under the old criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Strain, Lumbar Spine Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 12, 2010
- Citation
- 1038249
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 1038249.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's right and left knee strains, as well as shin splints, were granted increased ratings. The Veteran also received special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from October 25, 2017 to March 11, 2024.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's right knee disability rating from 10% to 30%, effective July 1, 2025, finding that the reduction was improper and constituted a de facto severance of service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle, bilateral knee, and left hip disability. The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for left thigh strain with limitation of flexion is granted.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability evaluations and denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition. The Veteran was granted service connection for persistent depressive disorder.
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