The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee condition is rated at 10 percent, while the lumbosacral spine disability was rated as 20 percent from July 15, 2008 to January 7, 2011.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not find any instability or other symptoms warranting higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261. The Veteran's left knee condition was rated based on limitation of motion alone.
- Claimed conditions
- Medial femoral condyle osteochondral defect of the left knee, Lumbosacral degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 27, 2012
- Citation
- 1233806
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 1233806.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, and lumbar scar. The remand includes obtaining updated VA examinations to assess the severity of these conditions without the ameliorative effects of medication, as well as determining appropriate effective dates for service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, right and left knee conditions, hip and ankle arthritis, tinnitus, and other impairments, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU are met.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a cervical spine disorder and residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to include a headache disorder, as well as the SMC and SMP claims. The issues are being remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's falls were caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected hypertension, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbosacral degenerative disc disease have been granted. The hypertension is rated at zero percent; the right lower extremity radiculopathy at ten percent before August 20, 2007 and twenty percent after that date; and the lumbosacral degenerative disc disease at twenty percent effective July 6, 2009.
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