The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to lack of in-service treatment records.
The deciding factor: The Board found that while there were no in-service complaints or diagnoses related to the knees, the Veteran was credible in his statements about having knee problems during service. The Board also noted the presence of moderate osteoarthritis in both knees and right knee arthroscopy, which could be related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disc disease, lumbar degenerative spondylosis, lumbar stenosis, status post right L4-L5 and L5-S1 laminotomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 4, 2018
- Citation
- 18131629
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 18131629.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spondylosis and stenosis, finding that there is at least a 50/50 balance of evidence to support his claim due to continuity of symptoms since service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbar stenosis and DDD status post-laminectomy with cervical scars, and for a compensable disability rating for scars status-post laminectomy are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for high blood pressure is remanded as there was insufficient evidence to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine or neck disability, and for a prostate disability are denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee patella femoral pain syndrome, left knee patella femoral pain syndrome, and lumbar stenosis as new and relevant evidence had not been received to readjudicate these claims.
- Granted
The Veteran's disability rating for multilevel degenerative disease and lumbar stenosis has been restored to 40 percent effective March 1, 2025.
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.