The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee bursitis and DDD of the lumbosacral spine with spondylolisthesis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed no more than slight to moderate limitation of motion in both knees, without additional functional loss due to pain or other factors.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Bursitis, Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the Lumbosacral Spine with Spondylolisthesis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2015
- Citation
- 1548639
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 1548639.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's left knee bursitis with chondromalacia is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no additional functional limitations or symptoms that warrant such an increase.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral flatfoot, right knee bursitis, left knee bursitis, migraine headaches, and tinea pedis. However, it denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful or limited motion at times due to pain and other factors, but with full extension to 0 degrees and flexion to greater than 30 degrees, was found not to warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent assigned since 2019.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable at any point during the period on appeal.
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.