The Veteran's lumbosacral spine and bilateral knee disabilities have been rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The August 6, 2012 rating decision granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and stenosis effective from that date.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability met the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5237, as his forward flexion was limited to 65 degrees, which is less than 85 degrees. The right and left knee disabilities each meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261 respectively.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbosacral Spine Degenerative Disc Disease and Stenosis, Right Knee Arthritis, Left Knee Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 15, 2015
- Citation
- 1544006
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 1544006.
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 a higher rating prior to August 12, 2013 was denied as his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5003.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from April 1, 2016 was denied as he is already receiving the maximum allowable disability rating of 60 percent for total right knee replacement.
- Granted
The Veteran's left total knee replacement with left knee arthritis and scar, status post left knee arthroscopy, are granted a disability rating of 60 percent effective February 28, 2025.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, and it is not etiologically related to a service-connected condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for PTSD was not granted, and the claims for left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, left knee arthroplasty and rheumatoid arthritis, and right knee arthritis were also denied.
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