The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, with no higher rating possible under the applicable diagnostic codes.,For her lumbosacral spine disability, the current ratings are insufficient to reflect the severity of her condition. The Veteran has a combined range of motion less than 120 degrees and muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or kyphosis.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable diagnostic codes.,Her right lower extremity radiculopathy also warrants a rating of 20 percent based on the severity of her symptoms and functional impairment.,For her headaches, the current ratings are insufficient to reflect the severity of her condition. The Veteran experiences characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right knee disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for any higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.,The lumbosacral spine disability meets and approximates the criteria for a 20 percent rating based on limitation of motion, with no higher rating possible due to the severity of her symptoms and functional impairment.,The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable diagnostic codes.,The right lower extremity radiculopathy meets and approximates the criteria for a 20 percent rating based on limitation of motion, with no higher rating possible due to the severity of her symptoms and functional impairment.,For her headaches, the current ratings are insufficient to reflect the severity of her condition. The Veteran experiences characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Disability, Lumbosacral Spine Disability, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2017
- Citation
- 1707716
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 1707716.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Mays & Schnapp Pain Management and schedule the Veteran for additional medical examinations.
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