The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of flexion limited to 30 degrees or less or extension limited to 15 degrees or more, even with consideration of pain and other functional impairment. Therefore, a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of flexion limited to 30 degrees or less or extension limited to 15 degrees or more, even with consideration of pain and other functional impairment. Therefore, a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of ankylosis, recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, dislocated semilunar cartilage or removal of the semilunar cartilage. Therefore, a higher rating is not warranted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's knee and cervical spine disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of flexion limited to 30 degrees or less or extension limited to 15 degrees or more, even with consideration of pain and other functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- retropatellar arthritis of the left knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, degenerative changes of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 30, 2018
- Citation
- 18130771
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18130771.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claims for service connection on all listed conditions are not before the Board.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied an effective date earlier than May 26, 2016, for a separate rating for right knee instability and left knee instability. The claims for higher ratings based on limitation of motion and instability of the knees, separate ratings for meniscus conditions of the knees, and secondary service connection claims were remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, right wrist sprain, left wrist disability manifested by pain, left foot arthritis, right foot arthritis and hallux valgus, headaches, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, right lateral epicondylitis (claimed as right arm disability), and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy (claimed as left arm disability and left elbow disability).
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, was granted. Other claims were denied or remanded.
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