The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed left knee disability, and his service-connected lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings. The Veteran's tinea pedis is rated appropriately, as are his hearing loss and CTS. His acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle condition, and head injury with headaches and myofascial pain syndrome do not warrant increased ratings. Finally, the Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence fails to establish a current disability of the left knee or any other claimed conditions. The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule, as they do not result in forward flexion less than 30 degrees or combined range of motion less than 170 degrees. His tinea pedis is rated appropriately at 0 percent, his hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, and his CTS is rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 8515.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Disability, Right Knee Disability, Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Type II (DM), Lumbar Strain and Midback Injury, Cervical Spine Injury, Tinea Pedis, Right Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), Acquired Psychiatric Disorder, to include Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Depressive Disorder with Anxiety, Posttraumatic Changes of the Right Ankle with Osteoarthritis, Ligament Strains, Tenosynovitis, and Plantar Fasciitis, Head Injury with Headaches and Myofascial Pain Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 8, 2016
- Citation
- 1604580
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1604580.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support an etiological relationship between his current condition and his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.
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