The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher, for degenerative changes of the left AC joint.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher, for chondromalacia patella of the right knee.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher, for chondromalacia patella of the left knee.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher, for a right calcaneal spur.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher, for a left calcaneal spur.,The Veteran is granted an initial compensable rating for headaches.
The deciding factor: For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's degenerative changes of the left AC joint are manifested by subjective complaints of pain, weakness, stiffness, swelling and fatigability as well as X-ray evidence of arthritis without limitation of range of motion, ankylosis of the scapulohumeral articulation, malunion of the humerus, recurrent dislocation of the humerus at the scapulohumeral joint, fibrous union of the humerus, nonunion of the humerus, flail shoulder, dislocation of the clavicle or scapula, or the nonunion of the clavicle or scapula.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella is manifested by subjective complaints of pain, weakness, stiffness, swelling and fatigability without X-ray evidence of arthritis, ankylosis, limitation of range of motion, instability or subluxation, dislocation or removal of semilunar cartilage, impairment of the tibia and fibula, or genu recurvatum.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's left knee chondromalacia patella is manifested by subjective complaints of pain, weakness, stiffness, swelling and fatigability without X-ray evidence of arthritis, ankylosis, limitation of range of motion, instability or subluxation, dislocation or removal of semilunar cartilage, impairment of the tibia and fibula, or genu recurvatum.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's right calcaneal spur is manifested by subjective complaints of swelling, fatigability and pain without limitation of range of motion, ankylosis of the ankle, subastragalar or tarsal joints, malunion of the os calcis, or astragalus or an astragalectomy.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's left calcaneal spur is manifested by subjective complaints of swelling, fatigability and pain without limitation of range of motion, ankylosis of the ankle, subastragalar or tarsal joints, malunion of the os calcis, or astragalus or an astragalectomy.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's headaches are manifested by non-prostrating headaches that occurred three times per month without interference with activities of daily living or the use of medications.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes of the left AC joint, Chondromalacia patella of the right knee, Chondromalacia patella of the left knee, Right calcaneal spur, Left calcaneal spur, Headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 28, 2014
- Citation
- 1403594
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 1403594.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or other manifestations consistent with a compensable disability rating under the criteria established by Diagnostic Codes. The matter is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his headaches and their impact on his daily life.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to PTSD, but his headaches are denied due to lack of service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's headaches, which manifested as very frequent and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability, are granted a 50 percent disability rating for the entire period on appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected headaches, which was awarded with a noncompensable rating at 0 percent. The Board is remanding the claim due to inadequate examination and the need for a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's headaches without considering the ameliorating effects of any medication.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.