The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and lumbar discectomy are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the minimum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The right knee subluxation associated with degenerative joint disease, right patella, left knee subluxation associated with degenerative joint disease of the left knee status post medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, and both knee disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent prior to May 16, 2017, and 30 percent thereafter. These ratings are also the minimum available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Knee.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating as it is currently rated at 10 percent due to forward flexion limited to 90 degrees with pain, extension limited to 20 degrees with pain, and no additional limitation of motion following repetitive use. The right knee subluxation associated with degenerative joint disease, right patella, left knee subluxation associated with degenerative joint disease of the left knee status post medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, and both knee disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent prior to May 16, 2017, and 30 percent thereafter. These ratings are also the minimum available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Knee.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, lumbar discectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 12, 2018
- Citation
- 1802896
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 1802896.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions, including impotence, headaches, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the lumbar spine disability from January 23, 2015, and denied a higher rating since September 1, 2018.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease as there was no evidence of an in-service event, disease, or injury related to the Veteran's condition.
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