The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The lumbar spine disability is rated as noncompensable prior to September 10, 2007, and 10 percent from that date to May 21, 2013, with a 40 percent rating beginning May 22, 2013. The cervical spine disability was also rated as noncompensably disabling prior to May 22, 2013, and 10 percent thereafter.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support the assignment of any higher ratings for the Veteran's lumbar or cervical spine disabilities based on the General Rating Formula. The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence that his conditions meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5243 (rating for intervertebral disc syndrome).
- Claimed conditions
- left knee disability, heart condition (hypertension), degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative joint disease of the right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2014
- Citation
- 1430701
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 1430701.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the July 2012 VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability, and a new addendum opinion is needed.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these issues have been addressed in a separate docket.
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