The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial evaluations for her service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, right knee instability, and left knee instability were denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show ankylosis or exceptional/unusual disability of the lumbar spine, nor did it demonstrate incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for a higher evaluation under the revised provisions of Diagnostic Code 5293. The knee disabilities were found to present moderate limitations in motion and instability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with bilateral sacroiliac sclerosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 9, 2017
- Citation
- 1715520
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 1715520.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her lumbar spine disability is being remanded to the Board of Veterans' Appeals for further development, including consideration of extraschedular evaluation due to marked interference with employment and frequent periods of hospitalization.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis of the lumbar spine, which is required for a rating in excess of 60 percent.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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.