The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to July 22, 2015. The Board has granted a maximum schedular rating for the entire appeal period.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability was found to have flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, which meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. No higher ratings are warranted as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbosacral Spine, Limitation of Extension, Left Knee, Traumatic Arthritis of the Left Knee with Limitation of Flexion, Left Knee Instability, Limitation of Extension, Right Knee, Traumatic Arthritis of the Right Knee with Limitation of Flexion, Right Knee Instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 23, 2018
- Citation
- 18105057
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 18105057.
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 Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been rated and denied for increased ratings, with some conditions receiving specific disability ratings. The Veteran is granted a 60% rating for her total right knee replacement from September 4, 2015 onwards, but the other claims are denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right knee strain (painful motion), and right knee instability are now rated at 30 percent effective August 16, 2017.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted a separate rating of 30 percent for right knee instability, but has remanded the issue of an increased rating for right knee disability due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider the effects of pain medication.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of representation.
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