The Veteran's initial ratings for right knee, left knee, and right hip osteoarthritis have been granted at 10 percent each. The Veteran is also rated separately for limitation of extension in the right hip (rated as a separate condition). The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent, with no higher rating due to lack of ankylosis or other specific criteria being met. The Veteran's left lower sciatic nerve neuralgia has not warranted a higher initial evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right knee and left knee osteoarthritis have been found to meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating each, based on limitation of flexion to no less than 45 degrees in both knees. The Veteran's right hip osteoarthritis has also met the criteria for a 10 percent rating due to limitation of flexion to more than 30 degrees without ankylosis. A separate 10 percent rating is assigned for limitation of extension in the right hip, based on additional functional loss. The lumbar spine disability meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating under DC 5242 due to degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease at L5-S1 without ankylosis or other specific criteria being met. The left lower sciatic nerve neuralgia has not been found to meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Osteoarthritis, Left Knee Osteoarthritis, Right Hip Osteoarthritis, Degenerative Disc Disease and Degenerative Joint Disease of the Thoracic Spine at L5-S1 (Lumbar Spine Disability), Neuralgia of the Left Lower Sciatic Nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 12, 2016
- Citation
- 1605691
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 1605691.
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 Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not related to service due to lack of evidence of a chronic condition during service or post-service continuity.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his awards of ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis based on limitation of extension. The evidence did not show a compensable limitation of extension prior to February 6, 2025.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his right knee disability is remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and consideration of medication effects.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, left knee osteoarthritis, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective February 23, 2024.
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