The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under VA guidelines. The left and right ankle disabilities are each rated at 10 percent, reflecting their respective conditions. The left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for loss of motion with a separate 20 percent rating for instability. The right knee disability is also rated at 20 percent for loss of motion.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating due to forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, which aligns with the criteria for ankylosis. The left and right ankle disabilities are rated at 10 percent each as they result in painful motion without significant limitation of motion. The left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for loss of motion due to severe varus malignment causing mild lateral laxity, while the right knee disability is also rated at 20 percent for similar reasons.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar Spine Disability, Left Ankle Degenerative Arthritis, Right Ankle Degenerative Arthritis, Left Knee Degenerative Arthritis with Loss of Motion and Instability, Right Knee Degenerative Arthritis with Loss of Motion and Instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 18, 2012
- Citation
- 1201862
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 1201862.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as there is no prior unadjudicated claim found in the record. The issue of TDIU was not raised until after a final rating decision on service connection for PTSD and TBI.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for cause of death due to a need for additional evidence and an adequate medical examination.
- Partly granted
The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left shoulder rotator cuff disabilities, effective from March 25, 2008 and February 28, 2008 respectively. The thoracolumbar spine disability was also rated at 40 percent, but a temporary total disability rating for convalescence following a January 13, 2016 left shoulder surgery was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands all issues on appeal for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and ensuring compliance with prior remand directives.
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